Bisbee daily review., 1902-08-12
PROGRESS
 IN IRRIGATION
WONDERFUL INCREASE IN AGRI- CULTURE IN THE ARID
 STATES.
Statistics Regarding Arizona and It's
 Irrioators.-valus of Lands Com
pared.

Washington, Aug g. The progre ss of agriculture in the arid states and territories during the decade ending with 1899 is shown in the report just published by the Division of Agricul- ture of the Twelfth census. As this progress is attributable largely to 1T, rigation. the statistics relating there to are of general interest.
 The number of irrigators in the Uni ted States in 1899. not including rice irrigators, was 10s, s,21S, an increase in ten years of 999 per cent. The area Irrigated was 7,539,545 acres, an in crease of 1076 per cent. Of this area 6,944,412 acres were in crops. and l. 6S5,1 ,133 acres in pastures and unma- tured crops. The cost of the irrigation systems in operation, exclusive of those on rice plantations, was 7,770,- 942. while the value of the irrigated crops was ss6 6,s60,491.
 The total length of all the main ditches in the arid aud semi-arid states and territories was A, 149 miles.
 The average number of irrigated acres in farms in arid states and ter ritories was Il; the average value of irrigated land per acre, ..42.53; the averaged value of crops produced on irrigated land, s14s1; the average first cost of water, s7.S0; the average annual cost of maintenance. SO.33 Of the 5,711,965 acres in crops. hay and forage occupied 3,665,654, or GAP per cent; cereals, 1.399,709. or PAS per cent; vegetables, 16S,432, or 2.9 per cent; orchard fruits, 251 ,2S9, or A per cent; other crops, 226SS1, or 40 per cent; other crops. 226.SS1. or A forage was 34.S34 ,966: cereals. s14.- 33S 1926; vegetables. $9,627 ,491; orch ard fruits, s3,920, ,409; other crops, in cluding sub-tropical fruits, grapes, flowers, plants, sugar beets, etc, $16.- 712,246
 In Arizona the number of irrigators increased from 1,075 in 1889 to 2,9S1, or 1773 per cent, and the number of acres irrigated from 65.621 to 1S5,- 396, or 1917 per cent. The average value of farm lands per acre was s5.74, of irrigated land. s43.50. The ditches in operation in 1899 had a length of 1.492 miles. cost s4,40S,15S, and irri- gated 134 422 acres. There were 914 acres irrigated from wells. The irri- gated area in crops was 137.233 acres. yeilding products valued at $2.25O.51S The area irrigated in pastures and un- matured crops was 4S,163, acres.
 Shortly after sending the irrigation bill to the President, congress passed a resolution authorizing the director of the census to compile statistics re, lating to irrigation for the crop year of 1902 With the data now assembled the work will be comparatively simple most of it being done by correspond ence. To secure this information in quiries will be sent out to irrigators throughout the United States. The cooperation of those interested in ir rigation is earnestly solicited for upon their prompt response will depend very largely the value of these statis tics This is in part supplementary work, the results of which will be util ized in the work soon to be under taken by the department of the Inter for under the provisions of the irriga tion bill.