Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-05
Washington Notes.
Special to Graphic.

special to ufaphlc.
Washington, January 31,-The accep.
tance by Congress of the principle of
federal aid III the construction of irriga-
ton works in the. western states has
given great impetus to every industry
~ that section Of the country. The pt o.
pie Of the eastern states are just begin
ming to realize the opportunities offered
in the terri orv to he opened up. As
migration will inevitably set in and this
region will become one of the most pop
ul. US and prosp rous in the country.
With large areas Of 'eclailnable tai.d
and plenty Of available water, Mort h
Dakota especially will be benefited by
the measure. ~. a. .,s~.
The actual work of survey ing, &C ating
and constructing reservoirs aud lther ir-
rigatinn works will be done by oe Geo
logical survey. In or.ter4 to obtain u
better understanding of the present OK
tent Of irrigation, the lo:a'in Of the
areas irrigated, and to gam other infOr-
nation useful in this work of the 'Fif, :
seventh Congress All horiz. q the direc-
tor o, the census to bring down to date
the irrigation statistics obtained in 1900
ly that Office. Letters of inquiry and
schedules are now being sent out to &C.
cure the necessary Information. All in.
terested in irrigation should answer as
fully and as promptly as possible any j. !.
qui,i- they may receive so that the
merits Of the various sections of Il 9
country may become known. Irriva
tors who do not receive blanks within a
reasonable time should notify the Gen.
sus oftire at Washington and they will
he suppli-d.
l, is interesting to note in this connec-
ton how much it will mean to the coun-
try At large 10 have the arid lands Of the
West reclaimed. According to the Cen
tus of 1900 the total improved farm area
of the United States was All, 100000
acres. 1t is .conservatively estimated
that the rec|a mabIe area is NOT less than
SC, 1000, 600 acres. It. reclamation, there
tore, will a,.d nearly one-eixht 10 the
act, aI crop producing area Of the coun-,
try and will exceed by liberal margin
the ,iluble land Of all the states. excep
ting New York, on the Atlantic coast
frum Maine 10 Flylida. Allowing 10
acres, the average S ze of irrigated
farms, tits area will make 1850 600
farms, or little less than one-f'rurth L 9
number III the U:.i'ed States in 1900.
Tie occu pants of these farms will add
directly to the population $3.50, 600, and
indirectly, in the accompanying mer
camille, professlonal. mann far' uring and
industrial classes at least 3, 25O0O more,
a total increase in the population Of the
United Safes Of 9,375, 900. or nearly
twelve and "ne-halt percent.
The total value uf all the harms in 1900,
including all improvements except
buildings: was $l3, l15, 900 600. At $42. so
per acre, th- average value of irrigated
land, the $1,000, 600 acres 10 be re-
claimed will add TO the valne OF the
farm land 81, ,25O, ,OO0, 600. II buildings
are included, 1h1 value Will he '"-
creased $775. 600, while the aupmen-
ted wealth through, railroads, cities, fac
tories and mills, ia beyond estimation.
Tue aunual value OF all the farm pro.
ducts in 1900 was 81 $40 OOO.OOO. TIE
ave rage value per acre OF products OF ir-
rigate,l lands WIS $14.8l. At this rite
the area to bp reclaimed wilt add pro
ducts worth $740: soc, 600, an addition" of
nearly one sixth Ut tho life sustaining
powers of the l'ount'y.
The number of iyrigatin9 dHcnes anu
canals il operation in the United states
exceeds 2O,OOO, and their combined
length is not less than 80 600 miles. 1t
ioined end to end they would reach
twice around the world. Formed into
one they: would constitute Il naviga'!e
canal, such as the Erie, thirty feet wide
and five feet deep, extending from San
Franc,<c, to New York, u distance OF
over !, 900 miles.
The 6xIrt.s OF the last ct nsns show
that the works r. quirrd to irr'xate Il
263 273 acres cost $G4 ,279 COL. an average
Of " IS per acre. At this rate the ex'
pendi,ure required to. reclaim the area nua
proposed would be 1T least $3.50 ,0O0,0 600:
After the Government has perf'" med
its part there will he no delay hy the
farmers iu carrying ON the work. Whl!e
the initial expense is enormous, II Is
not comparable with the value Of the
crops which will be grown on the lahos
reclaimed. The total cost OF All the 'rri'
CATION works it, use in the "'unlrv ls
only three fonrti,s the v"l'le "i tne
crops produced each year N irrigated
1as