The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-10-03
STATISTICS OF
NEVADA IRRIGATION

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3.--Census Di-
rector Durand issued today the first
official statement from the census bu-
reau relative to the statistics on irri-
cation in Nevada.
1t is based on a preliminary compare
tive summary submitted by DR.. Le
Grand Powers, chief statistician for
the division of agriculture in the bu-
reau of the census, under whose super.
vision it was prepared by r. P. Teele,
special agent in charge of irrigation.
This summary shows for both 1909 and
1899 the number of farms irrigated,
the acreage irrigated, total length of
bitches, the total cost of irrigation sys-
tens, and the average cost per acre
irrigated. 1t shows for the year 1910
the acreage which existing enterprises
were capable of supplying, the acreage
included in existing projects, the num-
ber of independent enterprises, num-
Der of reservoirs, capacity of reser-
voirs number of flowing wells, number
of wells pumped for irrigation, the
number of pumping plants, and engine
capacity of pumping plants. The acre
age irrigated is classified by the type
of enterprise supplying water and by
the source of water supply.
The act of congress Of eburary rs,
1910, under which the. census of irri-
CATION is being taken, provides for
collecting full information concerning
the location, character and cost of irri-
cation enterprises under national,
state or private control; the acreage
of land irrigated; the prices at which
land with water rights can be obtain
ed; and the quantity of water used
for irrigation.
1t should be noted that the figures
are subject to revision, after more COM
plete tabulation but it is not expected
that there will be any material modifi-
cation of the totals or percentages re-
ported.
Acreage, Equipment and Cost.
The total number of farms irrigated
in 1909 was 2,406, against 1906 in
1899, an increase of 500, or 26.2 per
cent. Within the same period the num-
Der of farms in the state increased
30.5 per cent. The per cent of the
whole number of farms irrigated in
1909 was S95, and in 1899 it was 92.5.
The total acreage irrigated in 1909
WdS tOV,olo dcIcS, dSdlHSt OVf,loo
acres in 1899, an increase of 204, $50
acres, or 406 per cent. The irrigated
area extended more rapidly than the
improved area, which increased during
the 10 years by 31.S per cent. This
fact, together with the large percent
age of all farms which were irrigated,
shows the great extent to which agri-
culture in general is dependent on ir-
rIgation in Nevada.
The total acreage which enterprises
were capable of supplying with water
! in 1910 was S40962 acres, an excess of
l31 ,944 acres over the area irrigated
in 1909. The acreage included in pro-
Ijeets either completed or under con-
struction in 1910 was 1,232,142 acres,
an excess of 523,124 acres over the
area irrigated in l909 This indicates
the area which will be available with
in the next few years for the extension
of irrigation, and shows that the area
irrigated can be almost doubled with
out the construction of additional
works.
The number of independent enter
prises reported in 1910 was 1,347. The
total length of all bitches in 1910 was
3,106 miles, against 1850 miles in 1899,
an increase of 247 miles, or SO per
lSSut. hC iCHStH VI ulLCuCS ICROIbCu
for 1910, l,90S miles, were in main
bitches, and 1 1,19S in lateraIs. The
number of reservoirs reported was Ill,
Having a combined capacity of 1885,
lacre-feet. The number of yells pump
ed for irrigation was six and the num-
ber of pumping plants Is. The engine
Icapacity OF pumping plants was 4S6
horsepower. The acreage irrigated
with pumped water was 900 acres. The
total cost of irrigation systems report
ed in 1910 was $6,664, 1888, against ST.
533,927 in 1899, an increase Of $780,
1906, or 334.5 per cent. The average
cost per acre in 1910 was $7.93, against
$2.05 in 1899, an increase of $5.88, or
2S6.S per cent. The average cost of
operating and maintenance per acre in
1909 was 80 cents, against Is cents in
1899, an increase of 72 cents, or 400
lper cent.
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 ~,
1909, 37,1S5 acres, or so per cent of
tne tOtdiy OHlttu StdtcS ihuidu scANhc0
(various acts of congress), 2,597 acres,
or 0.4 per cent of the total; co-opera-
tive enterprises, 1896 acres, or Ill
per cent; commercial enterprises, s.
s64 acres, or 1.3 per cent; and private
and partnership enterprises, 5S1, ,406
acres, or SO per cent. No irrigated
acreage was reported under Carey act
or irrigation district enterprises.
Works built by the United States re-
clamation service are to be turned over
to the water users for operation and
maintenance Including these, 9S.3 per
cent of the acreage irrigated in 1909
was supplied by works controlled by
the water users.
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