The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-07-29
IRRIGATION INVESTIGATION.
Opinions and Suggestions Relative to
Methods Sought By Census Bureau.

/ Aclhpao 0OuShl W Neuaub huIrdu.
Washington, D. G., July 20.-The opin.
ions Of government and state officials,
corporations and persons expertly in-
formed on the subject Of irrigation in
the United States will be obtained By
Census Director Durand with reference
to the number and nature Of the ques-
tons in the schedules Of inquiry, and
to the character Of the printed instruc-
tions for the use Of special agents,
which have been tentatively prepared
for the census bureaus impending irri-
CATION investigation.
BY the act approved February rs last,
amending the act providing for the TAX
Ing Of the thirteenth census, Congress
required the director Of the census to
make special detailed investigation Of
the subject Of irrigation in the United
States. The act provides that the in
formation shall show the area irrigated
III the arid regions Of the United States;
whether such work Is carried on under
federal or state laws; the prices at
which irrigated lands, including water
rights, are obtainabIe; the character and
value Of crops produced on irrigated
lands; the amount Of water used per
acre; and the location Of the various
irrigation enterprises, together with a
description Of their methods Of conssrue-
ton. their physical conditions, the
amount Of capital invested, and the
like.
Nine Different Schedules
In order to secure the information 50
specifically called for BY Congress, the
census bureau, in taking the agricul-
tural census, the field work Of which has
just been completed, made use Of spe-
eial or supplemental irrigation schedule
10 be filled in by the enumerators for
every farm having irrigation in the arid
regions Of the United States This spe-
cial schedule, however, secured only a
small part Of the Information needed in
order to prepare the full report re-
qured by Congress. To supplement it,
tie bureau Of the census has prepared
drafts Of nine different schedules, the
information on which wi1 be collected
By special agents Of the bureau in the
case of irrigation enterprises carried en-
rs governmental commercial, or co-op-
eIative undertakings, and BY means Of
correspondence in the case Of irrigation
pfaeticed By individual farmers for their
own farms In his letter 70 the experts
the director says.--
Before definitely adopting the sched-
ules, drafts Of which have been pre-
pared, the bureau desires to secure the
opinions Of persons like yourself, who
have given special attention to irriga-
ton matters. / am therefore enclosing
with this letter copy Of the supple
mental irrigation schedule made use Of
By enumerators in taking the general
census Of agriculture, copies Of the proof
Of the other schedules to be used in the
further work Of prosecuting this inyes-
tigation, and copy Of the Instructions
to the special agents for use by them in
returns on the schedules to be
handled by them.
Il shall appreciate It very much if
you viii look over these schedules and
give me the benefit Of your criticisms
md suggestions. am aware that many
points Of interest have not been covered
BY the questions on these schedules.
The experience Of the bureau Of the
census in past Investigations has shown
that the effort to obtain
100 much information results IN failure
10 secure complete and accurate returns.
Il is deemed better, therefore, to re-
luce the number Of questions to the low
sc point possible. At the same time,
I i not desired to omit any question
.alling for information which is Of vital
Importance"