Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-09-02
IRRIGATION STATISTICS FROM
REPORT OF The CENSUS
BUREAU OF U. S.
Number of Irrigated Farms Nearly
Doubled During Last Ten Years-To-
tai Acreage in 1908 Was ss4,s7s Acres
Total Cost Exported at S15,o14,oso
OF About $31.s1 Per Acre.

the Census Bureau relative to the sta
tistics of irrigation in the state of
Washington.
1t is based on a preliminary compare
tive summary submitted by DR.. LeGranl
Powers, chief statisticiam of the divis-
ion of agriculture in the Bureau of
Census, under whose supervision it was
prepared by R. P. Teele, special agent in
charge of irrigation. This summary
shows for both 1909 and 1899 the num-
Der of farms irrigated, the acreage irri-
gated, the acreage which existing enter
prises are capable of supplying and the
acreage included in existing projects,
the number of Independent enterprises,
the length of main bitches, the total
cost of irrigation systems, the average
cost per acre irrigated, and the average
annual cost of maintenance and opera
ton. 1t shows also, for the year 1909,
length of lateral bitches, number of res
ervoirs, capacity of reservoirs, number
of flowing wells, number of wells pump
ed 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.
Acreage, Equipment, and Cost.
The total number of farms irrigated
in 1909 was TAOS, against 3.513 in 1899,
an increase of 1892, or 110.S per cent
This rate of increase is considerably
higher than that in the whole number
of farms in the state, showing that ir-
rigation is advancing more rapidly than
dry farming.
The total acreage irrigated in 1909
was 334,37s acres, against 135,47O acres
in 1899, an increase of 19s,90s acres,
or 1868 per cent. During the same
period the improved land in farms in
creased but 1913 per cent, showing that
considerably larger part of the i'm
proved area was irrigated in 1909. The
per cent of the improved area irrigated
increased from 80 in 1899 to SO in
1909.
Total Acreage.
The total acreage which all enter
prises were capable of supplying with
water in. 1910 amounted to O,514
acres, in excess of 136,135 acres over
the area irrigated in 1909. The total
acreage reported in projects in 1910
was s17 ,O32 acres, an excess of 4S2, 654
acres over the area irrigated in 1909.
This indicates in a general way the
area which will be available for set
Element within the next few years.
The number of independent enter
prises was 1888 in 1909 and s7s in
1899, an increase of 1865, or 1902 per
cent. The total length of main bitches
was 2,55s miles in 1909 and SOC in
1899, an increase of 1852 miles, or
217.4 per cent. In 1909 there were 1856
reservoirs, having a capacity of 121-543
acre-feet.
The total cost of irrigation systems to
July 1, 1910, was reported as $15,O14,
900, as against 81, 1872 1863 in 1899, an
increase of $13,291,7 21, or 771.7 per
cent The average cost of irrigation
systems per acre irrigated in 1910 was
$31.91, as compared with a cost of
$12.56 in 1899, an increase of 1895, or
1871 per cent.
The average annual cost per acre for
maintenance and operation in 1909 was
$3.Os. This was not reported in 1899.
Distribution by Type of Enterprise and
by Source of Water Supply.
The acreage irrigated in 1909 has
been classified according to the state and
Federal laws under which the works
were built or are operated, as follows:
United States Reclamation Service (act
of Congress, June II, 1902, $500
acres, or 1917 per cent of total; United
States Indian Service (various acts of
Congress), $4,000 acres, or 1O.5 per cent
of total; cooperative enterprises, 81, 122
acres, or 24.3 per cent of total; enter.
prises supplying water for hire, 66,911
acres, or 80 per cent of total; private
and partnership enterprises, $685.
acres, or 2s.6 per cent of total There
are no Carey Act or irrigation district
enterprises in the state. OF the $500
acres reported as irrigated by, the Unit
ed States Reclamation Service, 49,97e
acres is reported as having been irri
gated by works built byeothers and tax
en- over by the United States Reclama
ton Service. Works built by the Unit
ed States Reclamation Service are tC
be turned over to the water users for
operation and maintenance. Including
these, 600 per cent of the acreage If
rigated in 1909 was supplied by; works
controlled by the water-users.
Streams supply 510,426 acres, or 92.s
per cent of the total acreage irrigated
in 1909; lakes supply 1O,7s2 acres, OF
80 per cent; wells supply 1904 acres
or 90 per cent; springs supply 4,2O7
acres, or Is per cent; and reservoirs
supply 299 acres, or about Oh per cent