Graham guardian., 1902-08-15
THE PROGRESS IN IRRIGATION.
Some Facts Everybody is In
tGFeSted in.
A WONDERFUL GROWTH SHOWN.
Irrigation is now Receiving Great
Deal Of Encouragement.
A WONDERFUL GROWTH SHOWN.
Irrigation is now Receiving a Great
Deal Of Encouragement.

Special to Graham GUARDIAN Stafford
Washington, D. c.,
Aug. 10, 1902.
The progress in agriculture in
the arid states and territories dur
ing the decade ending with 1899 is
shown in the report just published
by the Division Of Agriculture of
the twelfth census. AS this prog
"eSs is attributable largely to irri.
CATION, the statistics relating there.
to are Of general interest.
The number of irrigators in the
United States is 1899, not includ-
ing irrigators of rice, was 109,2l9,
an incease in ten years of 99.9 per
cent. The area irrigated was l.
539,2lS, acres, an increase of 1916
per cent. OF this area, 5,944, Alp
acres were in crops, and 1851
acres in pasture and unmatured
crops. The cost of irrigation
systems in operation, exclusive of
those on rice plantations, was SCI,
TO,942, while the value of the ir-
rgated crops was $4,000, ,491.
The total length Of all the main
bitches in the arid and semiarid
states and territories was 44,l4S
miles.
The average number of irri-
gated acres in farms in arid states
and territories was Il; the average
value of irrigated land per acre,
S42.53; the average value of crops
produced on irrigated land S14.81;
the average first cost Of water,S7.
so; the average annual cost of
maintenance, SO.36. OF the 5,7l1,
965 acres in crops, hay and forage
occupied 3,665,654 or G4.2 per cent;
cereals, 1899, 100, or 24.5 per cent;
vegetables 168,432 or 20 per cent;
orchard fruits, 25l ,289, or Il per
cent; other crops ,226,8S1, or 40
per cent. The value of the hay
and forage was S34, 1874 ,9G6; cereals,
Sl4, 1893, 1926; vegetables, 50, ,627 ,49l;
orchard fruits, S3,92O, 100; other
crops, including sub-tropical fruits,
grapes, flowers, plants, sugar beets,
etc, $l6,712,246.
In Arizona the number of irriga-
tors increased from l,075 in 1889 to
1881 in 1899, or 177.3 per cent,
and the number of acres irrigated
from 65,S2l to 1896, or 1917
per cent. The average value of
farm land per acre was S5.74, of
irrigated land, S43.50. The ditch
es in operation in 1899 had a
length Of ,492 miles, cost 81, ,40S,-
1853, and irrigated 1922 acres.
There was 974 acres irrigated from
wells. The irrigated area in crops
was 1928 acres, yielding pro-
ducts valued at S2,250, $40. The
area irrigated in pasture and inn
matured crops was 4S, ,l63 acres.
Shortly after sending the irriga-
tion bill to the president, congress
passed a resolution authorizing the
Director Of the Census to compile
statistics relating to irrigation for
the crop year Of 1902 With the
data now assembled, this work
will be comparatively simple, most
Oft being done by correspondence.
To secure this information in
quiries will soon be sent out to ir-
rigators through the United States,
The cooperation Of those inter
ested in irrigation is earnestly so.
licited for upon their prompt re-
sponse will depend very largely
the value Of these statistics. This
is in part supplementary work,
the results Of which will be utilized
in the work soon to be undertaken
by the Department Of the Interior
under the provisions Of the irriga.
ton bill.