The Dickinson press., 1903-01-31
Irrigation Works.
Washington, ID. c., Jan. u. 1909.

NCSii'SAohp ~ ~ " Sf 'SOI
SPECIAL TO PRESS: The acceptance
by Congress of the principle OF feder,l
aid in the construction OF irrigation works
in the western states has given a great
impetus to every industry in that section
al the country. The people of the east
ern states are just beginning to realize
the opportunities offered in the territory
to be opened up. Asthe proposition de-
velops atide of immigration will inevi-
tably set in and this region will become
one of the most populous and prosper
Gus in the country. With large areas OF
reclaimable land and plenty of available
water, North Dakota, especial will be
benefited by the measure.
The actual work of surveying locating
and constructing reservoirs and other
irrigation works will be done by the ge-
illogical survey. In order to obtain a
better understanding OF the present ex-
tent of irrigation, the location of the
areas irrigated, and to gain other inform
alton useful in this work, the Fifty
seventh congress authorized the director
of the census to bring down to date the
irrigation statistics obtained in 1900 by
that office. Letters of inquiry and
schedules are now being sent out to Sc
cure the necessary information. All in
terested in irrigation should answer as
| fully and as promptly as possible any
inquiries they may receive so that the
merits oil the various sections of the
country may become known. lrrigators
who do not receive blanks within a
reasonable time should notify the census
office at Washington and they will be
supplied.
1t is interesting to note in this con-
nection how much it will mean to the
country at large to have the arid lands
of the west reclaimed.
According to the census of 1900 the
total improved farm area OF the United
States was 4I4,8oo,ooo acres. 1t is con-
servatively estimated that the reclaim
able area is not less than 100000
acres. Its reclamation, therefore, will
add nearly one-eighth to the actual CROP
producing area of the country and will
exceed by a liberal margin the tiliable
land of all the states, excepting New
York, on the Atlantic coast from Maine
to Florida. Allowing 40 acres, the aver
age size of irrigated farms, this area will
make 100000 farms, or a little less thar
one-fourth the number in the United
States in 1900. The occupants of thes'
farms will add directly to the population
6,25o,ooo, and indirectly, in the accom-
panying mercantile, professional, manu-
featuring and industrial classes at leas
3,I25,ooo more, a total increase in tn
population of the United States of o,375
900, or nearly twelve and one-half pc
cent.
, The total value of all the farms i
1900, including all Improvements excer
: buildings, was $~l3,ll5,ooo,ooo. AT s42.5
per acre, the average value of irrlgate
f land, the 100000 acres to be reclaime
l will add to the value of farm Ian
sI,25o,ooo,ooo. If buildings are included
the value will be increased S775.ooo'oot
+ while the augmented wealth throug
railroads, cities, mills and factories,
beyond estimation.
: The annual value of all the farm pre-
5 ducts in 1900 was s4,37o,ooo'ooo. Tn
average value per acre of products {
Z irrigated lands was s14.81. At this raj
4 the area to be reclaimed will add pr
: ducts worth s74o,5oo,ooo, an addition {
" nearly one-sixth of the life sustainin
: powers of the country.
L The number of irrigating bitches an
canals in operation in the United State
exceeds 10000, and their combine
length is not less than $4,000 miles.
" joined end to end they would reae
twice around the world. Formed in
g one they would constitute a navigab
s canal, such as the Erie, thirty feet wiz
Is and five feet deep, extending from S;
n Francisco t. New York, a distance
h. over 5000 miles.
p The figures of the last census she
that the works required to irriga
,e 7,263,273 acres cost s64,28o,6oI, an ave
re age of 1886 per acre. At this rate t
t. expenditure required to reclaim the ar
e proposed would be at least $45o.ooo,ot
After the government has performed
part there will be no delay by t
farmers in carrying on the work. WI
ur the initial expense is enormous, it is r
comparable with the value of the Gro
IS which will be grown on the lands
claimed. The total cost of all the ii
cation works in use in the country
bo only three-fourths the value of the Gre
-. produced each year on irrigated lands