The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-01-27
WHAT GOVERNMENT RECLAMA.
TIoN MEANS FOR WEST.
LATE INFORMATION WANTED
Director of Census Bringing lrriaa-
tion Statistics Down to Date
Do Your Share.

ance by congress of the principle of
federal aid in the construction of ir-
rigation works in the western states
has given a great impetus to every in
dustry in that section OIL the country.
The people OF the eastern states are
just beginning to realize the opportun-
tiles offered in the territory to be
opened up. AS the proposition de-
velops, tide of immigration will in
evitably set in and this region will be-
come one of the most populous and
prosperous in the country. With large
areas of reclaimable land and plenty
of available water, Montana especial
ly will be benefited by the measure.
The actual work of surveying, To-
eating and constructing reservoirs
and other irrigation works will be
done by the geological survey. In or
der to obtain better understand
ing of the present extent of irriga-
tion, the location of the areas irrigat-
ed, and to gain other information use
full in this work. the Fifty-seventh
congress authorized the director of
the census to bring down to date the
irrigation statistics obtained in 1909
by that office. Letters of inquiry and
schedules are now being sent out to
secure the necessary information. All
interested in irrigation should an
sWer as fully and as promptly as pos
sible any inquiries they may receive
so that the merits Of the various sec
tions 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.
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 Unit
ed States was 414,SOO,OOO acres 1t is
conservatively estimated that the re-
claimable area is not less than So
100000 acres It's reclamation, there
fore, will add nearly one-eight to the
actual crop producing area of the
country and will exceed by liberal
margin the tillable land of all the
states, excepting New York, on the
coast from Maine to Florida |
Allowing 40 acres, the average size
Of irrigated lands, this area will make
l ,250,OO0 farms, or little less than
Onefourth the number in the United |
States in 1900. The occupants OF
these farms will add directly to the
population 6,25O,OOO. and indirectly.
in the accompanying mercantile, pro-
fessional, manufacturing and indus
trial classes at least 3,125,000 more,
l total increase in the population OF
he United States of $685. ,OOO or near
y 1211a per cent.
The total value of all the farms in
300, including all improvements ex-
.ept buildings, was $13,115, 100000. AT
,42.50 per acre, the average of irri
gated land, the 50,OOOOOO acres to be
reclaimed will add to the value of
arm land, $1,25O,OOO,OOO If build
ngs are included, the value will be
increased SITS, 100000, while the aug
nented wealth through railroads,
tiles, mills and factories, is beyond
The annual value of all the farm
roducts in 1900 was $4,379 100000.
'he average value per acre of pro- {
ucts of irrigated lands was $14.S1. j
It this rate the area to be reclaimed
,ill add products worth $740,500,000, ,
n addition of nearly one-sixth of the t
fe sustaining powers of the country
The number of irrigating bitches {
nd canals in operation in the Unit I
d States exceeds 10000, and their {
ombined length is not less than 50,- r
90 miles. If Joined end to end they /
'ould reach twice around the world. t
ormed into one they would consti-
lie a navigable canal, such as the t
rie, 80 feet wide and five feet deep, c
from San Francisco to New c
ork, distance of over 5000 miles. {
The figures of the last census show d
lat the works required to irrigate a
263,273 acres cost $64 4,2S9, ,601, an 7