Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-09-01
NORTH Il DAk01A'S
IRRIGATION STATISTICS

11BIB1U11 1OlV NtlOB lOO
= WASHINGTON, Sept. Census
Director Durand issued today the fl st
official statement from the census
bureau relative to the statistics of
irrigation in the state of North Da-
kota.
It is based on the Preliminary COM
parative summary submitted by DR..
LeGrand Powers, chief statistician Of
the division of agriculture in the bur-
eau of the census, and under whose
supervision it was prepared by r. P.
Teele, special agent in charge of irri-
cation. This summary shows for
both 1909 and 1899 the number Of
farms irrigated, the acreage irrigated,
the number of Independent enterpris-
es, the length of main bitches, the
total cost of irrigation systems, the
average cost per acre irrigated and
the average annual cost of mainten-
ance and operation. 1t shows also
for the year 1909. the acreage which
existing enterprises are capable of
supplying, the acreage included in
existing projects, length of lateral
bitches, number Of reservoirs, capac-
ity of reservoirs, 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 the source of
water supply.
The act of congress of February Is,
1910, under which the census of irri-
cation is being taken, provides for
collecting full information concerning
the location, character, and cost of
irrigation enterprises, whether such
enterprises are conducted under ma.
tional, state, or private control; the
acreage of land irrigated; the prices
at which land with water rights can
be obtained, and the quantity of wat
er used for irrigation.
1t should be noted that the figures
are subject to revision after more
complete tabulation, but it is not ex-
pected that there will be any material
modification of the totals or percent
age reported.
The total number of farms irrigated
in 1909 was 69, against 81 in 1889, an
increase of fifteen or 27.8 per cent.
The total acreage irrigated in 1909
was 10,248 acres, against 4,S72 acres
in 1899, an increase of 1903 per cent.
During the same period the improved
land in farms increased 112.1 per cent
showing that irrigation development
was at about the same rate as agri-
cultural development generally The
percent of the improved area irrigated
was O.O5 in both 1899 and 1909, in
dicating the unimportant place which
irrigation occupies in the agriculture
of the state.
The total area which all enterprises
were capable of supplying with water
in 1910 was 2O,6S7 acres, an excess
of 1O,439 acres over the ares irrigated
in 1909. The total area reported as
included in projects in 1910 was &c.
943 acres, an excess of 26,695 acres
over the area irrigated in 1909. This
indicates in general way the area
of irrigated land which will be avail
able for settlement within the next
few years.
In 1910 the number of Independent
enterprises was 40; the total length
of bitches was 1923 miles, and there
were % reservoirs, having capacity
of 132,187 acre feet. Most of this res.
ervoir capacity, however, is in nat
ural lake from which only small
volume of water is taken for irriga.
ton.
The total cost of irrigation systems
to July 1, 1910, is reported as $789, 533,
as against $16,980 in 1899, an increase
Of STU, 1858, or 4,549.8 per cent. The
average cost of Arrigation systems
per acre to whic hthese systems were
ready to supply water in 1910, was
$3S.17, against cost of $3.49 in 1899,
an increase of $34.68 per acre or
993.7 per cent.
The average annual cost per acre
for maintenance and operation in
1899 was 1918 per acre.
OF the acreage irrigated in 1909,
1910 acres, or 1871 per cent, was sup
piled by works built by the Tilted
States Reclamation Service. The re-
naming 1888 acres, or 84.3 per cent,
was supplied by individual or partner.
ship works. Under the law the works
built by the United States Reclama-
ton service are to be turned over to
the water users for operation and
maintenance, and when lhis takes
place all the land irrigated in North
Dakota will be served by works con-
trolled by the water users.
Streams supplied 8,787 acres or 85.7
per cent of the total acreage irrigated
in 1909; springs supplied 1850 acres
or 1878 per cent.