Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-02-15
EXTENT Of IRRIGATION
SOME INTERESTING FIGURES RE
oARDiNG THE NEW iRRi.
CATION BILL.
WHAT MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED
UNDER THE LAW RECENT
" PASSED.
An Interesting Exposition Of the Pos
sibiIities Of irrigation in the United
states-What the Records Show.

sibiiities Of irrigation in the On'teo
states-What the Records Show.
Washington. d. c.. Feb. lathe
acceptance by congress of the primer
ple of federal aid in the construction
of irrigation works in the western
states has given a great impetus 10
every industry in that section OF the
country. The people of the eastern
states are Just beginning to realize
the opportunities offered in the terri
tory to be opened up. AS the PROPOSE
ton deyelopes. a tide of immigration
will inevitably set in and this region
will become one of the most popu-
lous and prosperous in the country.
With large areas of reclaimable land
and plenty of available water, North
Dakota especially will be benefited by
the measure.
The actual work of surveying. loca-
ting and constructing reservoirs n
other irrigation works will be done
by the geological survey. In order to
ATTAIN a better understanding of the
present extent of irrigation. the loca-
ton of the areas irrigated, and to gain
other information useful in this work
the ~ffty-seventh congress authorized
the director of the census to bring
down to date the irrigation statistics
obtained in 1900 bv that office. Let
tiers of inquiry and schedules are o
being sent out to secure the necessary
information. All interested in irrlga-
ton should answer as fully and as
promptly as possible any inquiries
they may receive so that the merits
of the various sections of the cOun-
try MAY become known. I%rrigatOrs
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 meal 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 414.S0O 900 acres. 1t is
conservatively estimated that the re-
claimable area is not less than so 900
acres. Its reclamation. therefore
will add nearly o%ne-eighth to the ac
tual crop producing area of the cOun
try and will exceed by a liberal mar
gin the tillable land of all the states
excepting New York, on the Atlantic
coast from Maine to Florida. Allow
ing 40 acres, the average size of irri
gated farms, this area will make 1.
| Ocn nAn fnu~nc nv n 1,tt10 1occ than ona
fourth the number in the United
States in 1900. The occupants of these
farms will add directly to the popula
ton, $3.50. 900, and indirectly. in thu
accompanying mercantile, prOfes
sional. manufacturing and industrial
classes at least 3,125,OO more. a tota
increase in the population of thu
United States of 9.375. 900. or nearl,
twelve ond one-half per cent.
The total value of all the farms il
1900. including all improvements ex
cept buildings. was $13.11 5. 0OO. 900. A
$42.50 per acre. the average value o
irrigated land. the 30, 000. 900 acres t,
be reclaimed will add to the value o
farm land 1 .25O. 900 900. If building
are included, the value will be in
creased STE, 600. 900. while the aug
mented wealth through railroads, cit
les. mills and factories, is beyond est
nation.
The annual value of all the farr
products in 1900 was $4,379, 900 ,00t
The average value per acre of proc
ucts of irrigated lands was $14.S1. A
this rate the area 10 be reclaimed wi
add products worth $40, SOC, 900, a
addition of nearly one-sixth of the lif
sustaining powers of the country.
The number Of irrigating ditche
and canals in operation in the Unite
States exceeds 2 0 1000. and their con
bined length is not less than so. 90
miles. If Joined end to end they woul
reach twice around the world. Forme
into n they would constitute a ma,
igable canal. such as the Erie. thirt
feet wide and five feet deep. extendin
from San Francisco to New York.
: distance of over 5000 miles.
The figures of the last census sho
that the works required to irriga,
I 7,263,273 acres cost $64, 2S9. sol. an a
o erage of $685. per acre. At this raj
the expenditure required to reclai
the area proposed would be at lea
n $3.50. 900 900. After the governme,
has performed its part there will !
NO delay by the farmers in carving {
the work. While the initial expen
is enormous, it is not comparable vii
Z the value of the corps which will |
grown on the lands reclaimed #,
total cost of all the irrigation works
use in the country is only three.fourt]
the value of the crops produced ca,
year OF irrigated lands.
If