Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1911-06-15
IDAHO STATISTICS AS ISSUED
BY CENSUS BUREAU OF
UNITED STATES.
Increased Nearly rs Per Cent During
Past 10 Years-Total Acreage Cap
able of Getting Water Is 2,3s4,574-
Systems Cost Over $40, o0o, ooo-Tot

rector Falkner has issued the first Off
cial statement from the Census Bureau
relative to the statistics of irrigation in
the state of Idaho.
1t is based on preliminary compare
tive summary submitted by DR.. LIE
Grand Powers, chief statistician of the
division of agriculture in the bureau of
the census, under whose supervision it |
was prepared by R. P. Teele, special
agent in charge of irrigation. This sum-
mary shows for both 1909 and 1899 the
number of farms irrigated; the acreage
irrigated; the acreage which existing
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 irrigation systems; the
average annual cost of maintenance and
operation. 1t shows also for the year
1909 length of lateral bitches, number
of reservoirs, 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 irri-
gated is classified by the type of en-
terprise supplying water and by the
source of water supply.
The act of Congress of February rs,
1910, under which the census of irriga-
ton is being taken, provides for collect
ing full information concerning the To-
cation, character, and cost of irrigation
enterprises; whether such enterprises
are conducted under national, state, or
private control; the acreage of land irri-
gated, 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 figures are
subject to revision, owing to the fact
that a small part of the state could not
be canvassed until the present summer.
1t is not expected that the reports from
the territory not yet canvassed will
make any material modification in the
totals or percentages reported.
Acreage, Equipment and Cost.
The total number of farms irrigated
in 1909 was 16,O12, against 91sss in
1899, an increase of 6S24, or TAB per
cent, which is about the same as the
ratio of increase, 75.9 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 52.1 IL
1909 and 52.6 in 1899.
The total acreage irrigated in 1905
was 1,42S, 542 acres, as against 6OS,71S
acres in 1899, an increase of S19,S2z
acres, or 1347 per cent. AS the I'm
proved acreage in farms in the state IL
the same period of time increased g.
per cent, it is evident that farmers arr
irrigating larger parts of their cult
waited lands. This improved acreage
irrigated increased from 43.1 per cent IL
1899 to SIS per cent in 1909.
The total acreage which all enter
prises were capable of supplying witt
water amounted in 1910 to 2,3S4,57
acres, as compared with 1,3S4,5OO acre
reported under ditch in 1899, the in
crease being 1O36,O74 acres, or 76.S pc
cent in the IL years.
The acreage included in all project
completed, or actually under construc
ton, in 1910, was 3,547, 949 acres.
The number of independent enter
prises was 3Os1 in 1909 and 1884 l
1899, an increase of 1247 or 64.9 pc
cent. The total length of main ditche
was 1921 miles in 1909 and 1876 in 1895
an increase of 2775 miles, or 57.3 pc
cent. These increases are much smalle
than the gain in the acreage irrigated
indicating that the new enterprises an
the new bitches are much larger tina
those of 1899.
The total cost of irrigation system
to July 1, 1910, was reported as $4o
9s3, $50, as against $5,116,227 in 1899, a
increase of $35,s67 ass, or 7o1.1 pc
cent.
The average cost per acre OF irrlg'
ton in 1910 was SITS, as compare
with 1919 in 1899, an increase of 1888
or 1888 per cent This great lncreas
in cost per acre irrigated is due IN pa
to more difficult construction, and
part to better and more permanent col
struction. The average annual cost
irrigation operation and maintenan'
per acre increased from "a cents In 1S'
to "a cents in 1909, or 1867 per cen
showing that the newer works are mo-
expensive in use as well as in first cos
distribution by Type of Enterprise al
by Source of Water Supply
The acreage irrigated in 1909
been classified according to the sta
and federal laws, under which the wor
were built or are operated, as follow