Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-08-09
Increase Of Irrigated Farms
During Decade.
IRRIGATION IN new MEXICO.
Miss Ethel Davies, a Newport Belle,
is Married.
CHARGED WITH PERJURY.

Washington, d. c., Aug. 9.-The
progress in agriculture in the
arid states and territories during the
decade ending with 1899 is shown in
the report just published by the divis-
ion of agriculture of the twelfth cen
sus. AS this progress is attributable
largely to irrigation, the statistics re-
lating thereto are of general interest
The number of irrigators in the Unit
ed States in 1899, not including irriga-
tors of rice, was 10S,2iS. an increase in
ten years of 99.9 per cent The area
irrigated was 7539,545 acres, an in
crease of 1915 per cent. OF this area.
5,944,412 acres were in crops, and l.
595,1S acres in pasture and unma-
tured crops. The cost of irrigation
systems in operation, exclusive of
those on rice plantations, was s67,770,-
942, while the value of the irrigated
crops was $50, $50, ,491
The total length Of all the main
bitches in the arid and semi-arid states
and territories was 44,149 miles.
The average number of irrigated
acres in farms in arid states and terri
tories was Il; the average value of ir-
rigated land per acre, s42.53; the aver
age value of crops produced on irri-
gated land, $14S1; the average first
cost of water, $3.50; the average an
nual cost of maintenance, 3S cents. or
the 5.711,yoo acres in crops, hay and
forage occupied 3,665,65 or 64.z PEI
cent cereals, 1899, ,709, or 24.5 per
cent vegetables, 6S,432. or 29 per
cent; orchard fruits, 251 ,2S9, or "A per
cent; other crops, 226,SS1, or 4 per
cent. The value of the hay and forage
was s34 1884, 800; cereals, s14,33S,326;
vegetables, s9,627,491 orchard fruits,
SO, ,920, ,409; other crops, including sub
tropical fruits, grapes, flowers, plants,
sugar beets. etc, $16,712,246.
In New Mexico the number of irriga-
tors increased from 3,0S5 in 1899 to
1854 in 1899, or 1856 per cent, and the
number of acres irrigated from 81, ,745
to 203, 1898, or 1922 per cent. The av-
erage value of farm land per acre was
1895, of irrigated land, $29.26. The
bitches in operation in 1899 had a
length of 1852 miles, cost s4,140,319,
and irrigated 2O2,SS9 acres. There
were 1904 acres irrigated from wells.
The irrigated area in crops was 1872
S04 acres, yielding products valued at
$2,757,lU7 The area irrigated in past
ure and immatured crops was 2l,0S9
acres.
In Colorado the number of irrigators
increased from 1863 in 1899 to 1858
in 1899, or 1913 per cent, and the num-
ber of acres irrigated from S90,73 to
1,611 ,271, or 500 per cent. The average
value of farm land per acre was 1854;
of irrigated land. s40.77. The bitches
| in operation in 1899 had length of
1874 miles, cost 1865, ,l37, and irri.
gated 1,604,213 acres. There were T..
! 05S acres irrigated from wells. The
irrigated area in crops was 1,299,S24
acres, yielding crops valued at $l5,'
100 $50. The area irrigated in pasture
and immatured crops was 81 ,447
acres
Shortly after sending the irrigation
a resolution authorizing the director OF
the census to compile statistics relat-
ing to irrigation for the crop of 1902
| With the data now assembled, this
work will be comparatively simple
most of it being done by correspond
/ ence. To secure this information in
quires will soon be sent out to irriga
| tors throughout the United States. The
cooperation of those interested in irri
CATION is earnestly solicited, for upon
their prompt response will depend
very largely the value of these stats
/ tics. This is in part a supplementary
work, the results of which will be util
| lied in the work soon to be undertaken
| by the department of the interior un
der the provisions of the irrigation bill