The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1911-09-01
IRRIGATION STATISTICS
Preliminary Statements for 1909,
Compared with 1899, Issued
by the Census Bureau.

by the Census Bureau.
Washington, August 31.-Cen-
sus Director Durand has issued
the first official statement from
the Census Bureau relative to the
statistics of irrigation in the state
OF South Dakota.
1t is based on a preliminary
comparative summary submitted
by DR.. LeGrand Powers, chief
statistican of the division of ag-
rlculture in the Bureau of the
Census, under whose supervision
it was prepared by II. p. Teele,
special agent in charge of irri-
CATION This summary shows for
both 1909 and 1899 the number OF
farms irrigated, the acreage irri-
gated, h number o in
dependent enterprises, 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 acre
age which existing enterprises
are capable Of supplying, the
acreage included in existing pro-
jects, length of lateral bitches,
number Of reservoirs, capacity
OF reservoirs, number of flowing
wells, number Of wells pumped
for irrigation, number of pump
ing plants, engine capacity of
pumping plants and acreage ir-
rigated 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 Febru-
ary 25, 1910, under which the
census Of irrigation is being TAX
en-, provides for collecting full in
formation concerning the location
character, and cost Of irrigation
enterprises; whether such enter
\ prises are conducted under na-
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 water used for
irrigation.
:. 1t should be noted that the
flgures are subject to revision
after more complete tabulation !;
but 1t is not expected that there
will be amy material modification
OF the totals or percentages re
ported.
The total number of farms ir-
rigated in 1909 was 500, against
COG in 1899, decrease Of 1O6. or
us per cent. Within the same
period the number of farms in
the state increased 47.6 per cent.
The total acreage irrigated in
1909 was 63,24s acres. against
1856 acres in 1899, an increase
Of 1852 acres, or 44.s per cent.
During the same period the i'm
proved area Of farms increased
40.2 per cent, showing a very
slight increase in the per cent of
improved land irrigated-from
O.39 per cent in 1899 to O.4O Der
cent in 1909.
The total acreage which all
enterprises were capable of irri-
eating in 1910 was 12S, ,4S1 acres,
an excess of 65,233 over the area
irrigated in 1909, showing that
the present irrigated acreage can
be doubled without the construct
ion Of new works. The acreage
included in projects now com
pleted or under construction is
201,685 acres, an excess of 1885,
473 acres over the area irrigated
in 1909. This indicates in a
general way the acreage which
will be available for settlement
within the next few years.
The number of independent en-
terprises reported in 1909 was
oSo, against 1SS in 1899, an in
crease of 207, or 110.1 per cent
This per cent is much higher
than the per cent Of increase in
the acreage irrigated, indicating
that the newer enterprises are
smaller than the older ones. Many
of the new ones are reservoirs
and artesian wells irrigating
single farms. The length of mail
bitches in 1909 was 631 miles,
against 223 miles in 1899, an in
crease Of 1873 per cent. This high
percentage indicates again the de
creased size of enterprises. The
number Of reservoirs reported
is 314. Most Of these are small,
irrigating single farms. or small