Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-03
INCREASE IN FARMS
CENSUS BULLETINS AS TO VIR-
GINA AND UTAH.
Interesting Statistics in Reference to
Those Two States-Value
of Irrigation.

Bulletins were issued from the census
bureau today on the agriculture of Virginia
and Utah.
The farms of Virginia June 1, 1900, num-
bered 16I ,SSG and were valued at s2115I
200 OF this amount S1O,963 40, or 26.1 per
cent, represents the value of buildings, and
S,o. 615.0S,, or 1879 per cent, the value of
land and improvements other than build
ings. On the same date the value of farm
implements and machinery was S,H1,0i0,
and of live stock s42O26, 1877. These values
added to that of farms give Ss23 ,515,977, the
total value of farm property.
The total value of farm products for 1899
was SS6,54S, as, of which amount ST. &c.
St3, or 3D. per cent, represents the value
of animal products, and sos, 7O1, 742. CTS
per cent. the value of crops, including for
est products cut or produced on farms.
The total value of farm products for 1899
exceeds that for 1889 by s44, 304,OS7, or 1919
per cent.
report, .one-third of Virginia was incor-
porated in the new state of West Virginia.
The territory withdrawn contained 1886
3I9 acres in farms. consisting of 2.346,l2
acres of improved land and S.55o,252 acres
of unimproved land. which should be con-
sidered in comparing the figures for the
various census years. Making allowance
for this reduction in area, the tables show
cade. 1860 to 1870, of 2.074,746 acres. of
which the state has recovered all but about
100000 acres.
More Than Doubled in Number.
Between 1850 and 1900 the number of
farms more than doubled, the decade from
1850 to 1870 being the only reporting a
decrease During the last ten years there
was a gain of 4O, $50 farms, or BIG per cent.
The number of farms has increased faster
than the total acreage, involving decrease
in the average size, which has been con-
tinuouS since 1850.
Great development is shown for the dec
ade from 1850 to 1860 but on account of
the territorial change previously mentioned
the state lost territory whose farm property
was valued in 1860 at SOL ,S91 ,915. of which
SSt.I26OSI represented the value of land
buildings and Improvements: sl2.392. $50 that
of live stock, and 81 ,513, AS that of imple-
ments and machinery Taking these deduc-
tons into consideration. the table shows
that since 1860 there have been gains of
SG,tl636s in the value of live stock. and
$2.4 go in the value of implements and
machinery: but decrease in the value of
land. buildings and improvements of S12.
to- .}I4. The total value of farm property
is S35i9.11 ia less than in 1850.
In the last ten years the total value OF
farm property has increased $50 O27 ,4OS, or
90 per cent; that of land, improvements
and buildings, 1,0S7 900, or 81 per cent;
lllStl VI implements ana machinery, St,Slt g.
A'2. or 0.3 per cent, and that of live stock.
SS.G22.4o6. or 25.S per cent. The value of
farm products for 1899 is more than double
that of ten years before. Part of this in
crease, and of that In implements and ma
chinery. is doubtless the result of a more
detailed enumeration in 1900 than hereto
fore.
THE value of the farm property Of col
ored farmers is S24. so GIG, more than one
half the total number owning the farms
they operate. With the exception of thirty
nine Indians. the colored farmers of the
state are negroes.
Farms of Utah.
The farms Of Utah, June /, 1900, num-
bered 1887 and were valued at $50 49,
$50. OF this amount s1O651 100. or q per
cent. represents the value of buildings and
$40 126,56O, or 20 per cent, the value - the
land and improvements other than build
ings. On the same date the value of farm
implements and machinery was s2.922 $50
and of live stock. sd 474,241. These values
added to that of farms give 5,175 141, the
total value of farm property.
The total value of farm products for 1899
was s16,502.o51 of which amount S, $50 .OsO
or % per cent, represents the value of ami
NAL products. and IS, 242 OIL or 80 per cent
the value of crops, including forest prod
ucts cut or produced on farms. The total
value of farm products for 1899 exceeds
that for 1889 by S11 ,61O,591, or 237.4 per
cent but a part of this gain is due to a
more detailed enumeration in 1900 than in
1890.
Result of Irrigation.
OF the total number of farms in the state,
irrigation was practiced 1924, or 93.1
per cent. OF the total improved area, 1927
226 acres, 629,293 acres. or 61.2 per cent
We're irrigated during the year 1899.
In 1899 there were operated 92S irrigation
systems receiving water from streams by
gravity diversion. The total cost of con-
structlon was s3.I22,3O6 an average cost
per acre irrigate in 1889 of s917 Bear
RIVER canal system, which cost 81 go 600
and which was designed to irrigate 10000
acres, is of comparatively recent construc-
ton. and in 1899 only 1900 acres of the
land under the system were irrigated Elk
elusive of this system, the average cost of
construction per acre irrigated was s737
Inc average cost of maintenance per acre
Tor the state was s0.24 The total length of
the main canals and bitches operated in
1899 was 2,S}S miles
Tne average value per acres of all farms
June !. 1900 was 1918, and of farms on
which irrigation was practiced s1O42 The