Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-03
Idaho's Irrigation Statistics

WASHINGTON, June 1-Acting Census
Director Falkner issued today the first
official statement from the census bureau
relative to the statistics OF irrigation in
the state OF Idaho.
It is based on a preliminary comparative
summary submitted by DR.. LeGrand Pow
ers, chief statistician OF the division Of
agriculture in the bureau of census. under
whose supervision II was prepared by r.
p. Teele, special agent in charge OF irriga-
ton. The summary shows for both 1909
and 1899 the number of farms irrigated; the
acreage irrigated; the acreage which exist
ing enterprises are capable of supplying
and the acreage included in existing prof.
ects: the number of independent enter
prises; the length of main bitches; the
total cost OF irrigating systems, the
average cost per acre irrigated, and the
average annual cost of maintenance and
operation. 1t shows also for the year 1909
length OF lateral bitches. number OF reser-
voirs, capacity Of reservoirs, number of
flowing wells number of wells pumped
for irrigation. number Of pumping plants,
engine capacity of pumping plants, and
acreage irrigated with pumped water. The
acreage irrigated is classified by the type
OF enterprise supplying water and by the
source OF water supply.
The act of congress OF February Is, 1910
under which the census Of irrigation Is
being taken, provides for collecting full
information concerning the location char
acter and cost OF irrigation enterprises:
whether such enterprises are conducted
under national. state or private control;
the acreage Of land with water rights can
be obtained, and the quantity of water used
for irrigation.
1t should be noted that the figures are
subject to revision, owing to the fact that
a small part OF the state could not be can
vassed until the present summer. II is not
expected that the reports from the terri
tory not yet canvassed will make any ma
terial modification in the totals or per-
centages reported.
Acreage, Equipment and Cost
The total number OF farms irrigated in
1909 was 1902. against s.lSS In 1893, an in
crease OF 6,S24, or TAB per cent which is
about the same as the ratio of Increase
1853 per cent, in the whole number OF farms
in the state during the same period Of
time. Hence the per cent Of farms irrigated
remains practically unchanged, being SCI
in 1909 and 62.6 In 1893.
Inc Notdl acreage irrigated IN 1SO3 was
l,42S,542 acres as against SOs,71s acres in
1899, an increase of slss24 acres or ls4.7 per
cent. As the improved acreage in farms
in the state in the same period OF time
increased 96.2 per cent Il Is evident that
farmers are irrigating larger parts OF their
cultivated lands. This improved acreage
irrigated increased from iSl per cent in
1888 to SIS per cent in 1909
The total aCreage which ALI sptsrprIs..
were capable OF supplying with water
amounted in 1910 to 2,ss4.574 acres, as com
pared with l,34S,5OO acres reported under
ditch In 1899. the increase being 1886. o74
acres, or I6.S per cent In the eleven years
The acreage included I'm all projects COM
pleted or actually under construction In
1910 was 9.547s4S acres.
The number OF Independent enterprises
was SOSl In 1903 and 1854 In 1899 an in
crease OF l,247. or 67s per cent. The total
length OF main bitches was 1874 miles In
1903 and 4,s46 in 1899 an increase OF ATS
miles, or 67S per cent. These Increases are
much smaller than the gain in the acreage
irrigated, indicating that the new enter
prises and the new bitches are much larger
than those OF 1899.
The total cost OF irrigation systems 10
July l, 1910, was reported as $40 sSs. $50, as
against $5,ll6.S27 in 1899. an increase of
SS5,S67, ASS, or 7Ol1 per cent
The average cost per acre OF irrigation IN
1910 was NTls, as compared with SsTs IN
1893. an increase OF 3lS.S9 or S5S.S per cent
This great increase in cost per acre irri-
gated is due in part 10 more difficult CON
struotion and In part to better and more
permanent construction. The average an
nual cost Of irrigation operation and main
tenance per acre increased from "a cents In
1883 to "a cents In 1909, or l6s.I per cent.