Arizona republican., 1903-01-29
A New Farming Empire.

The acceptance by congress Of the principle of federal aid in the con- struction of irrigation works in the petus to every industry in that section of the country. The people of the east ern states are just beginning to realize the opportunities offered in the terri ton develops, a tide of immigration will inevitably set in and this region will become one of the most populous and prosperous in the country. With large areas of reclaimable land. Arl- zona especially will be benefited hy the measure.
 The actual work of surveying, locat ing and constructing reservoirs and other irrigation works will be done by the geological survey. In order to ob- tain 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 Fifty-seventh congress authorized the director of the census to bring down te date the irrigation statistics obtain ed in 1900 by that office. Letters of in out to secure the necessary informa- tion. All interested in irrigation should answer as fully and as promptly as pos sible any inquiries they may receive so &l,n -f1nrc ion of the country may become known. Irrigators who do not receive blanks within a reasonable time should notify the census office at Washington, and they will be supplied.
 It is interesting to note in this coh- 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 414, 800, ,OCO acres. It is con- servatively estimated that the reclaim able area is not less than 5O,000, 00O 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 tilIa ble land of all the states, excepting New York. on the Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida Allowing forty acres, the average size of irrigated farms, this area will make 1,250,OO0 farms. CT a little less than one fourth the number in the United States in 190O The occu- pants of these farms will add directly to the population 6.25OO 900. and indirect ly, in the accompanying mercantile, professional, manufacturing and indus trial classes at least 3,125,OOO more a total increase in the popula tion of the United States Of 9,S75,OOO. or nearly 12ia per cent.
 The total value of all the farms in 1900. including all improvements sx- cept buildings, was s13 115, ,0OO, ,000. At s42.5O per acre. the average value of ir- rigated land, the 5O,OOO.OOO acres to be reclaimed will add to the value of farm land $1,25O, 900, ,OOO If buildings are in- cluded, the value will be increased $775. .COO.OO0. while the augmented wealth through railroads, cities, mills and fac tories is beyond estimation.
 The annual value of all farm products in 1900 was s4.379 OOO. GOO. The average value per acre of products Ii irrigated lands was s14.s1. At this rate the area to be reclaimed will add prod ucts worth s74O, 900, an addition of nearly one-sixth of the life sustaining powers of the country.
 The number of irrigating ditches and canals in operation in the United States exceeds 10000, and their combined length is not less than 50,OO0 miles. Ii joined end to end they would reach twice around the world. Formed into one they would constitute a navigable canal. such as the Erie, thirty-five feet wide and five feet deep, extending from San Francisco to New York, distance of over 5000 miles.
 The figures of the last census show that the works required to irrigate r. 263,273 acres cost S64, ,2S9. .6O1, an average of $8.S5 per acre. At this rate the ex- penditure required to reclaim the area proposed would be at least $45O, ,OOO, 900. After the government has performed its part there will be no delay by the farmers in carrying on the work While the initial expense is enormous, it is not comparable with the value of the crops which will be grown on the lands reclaimed. The total cost of all the irrigation works in use in the country is only three-fourths the value irrigated lands