The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-05
IRRIGATION HERE
Director of Census Gives Facts
About Kansas.
More Than a Thousand Farms
Under the Ditch.
SHOWS AN INCREASE
Over Eight Per Cent. Since Pre-
ViOus Census.
Over a Million Dollars Invested
in Plants.
SHOWS AN INCREASE

Washington, Sept. 5.=The director
/ of the census today issued the first Of
fetal statement from the bureau rela-
/ tive to the statistics on irrigation IN
| Kansas.
/ 1t is based on a preliminary COM
parative summary submitted by DR..
LIE Grand Powers, chief slatistician of
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 1903
and 1899 the number of farms irri-
gated. the acreage irrigated, the length
of main bitches, the total cost of irri-
cation systems, and the average cost
per acre irrigated. 1t shows also, for
the year 1909, the acreage which exist
ing enterprises are capable of supply
ing, the acreage included in existing
projects, the number of Independent
enterprises the length of lateral
bitches, number of reservoirs, capacity
of reservoirs, number of flowing wells
number of wells pumped for irriga-
ton, the number of pumping plants,
engine capacity of pumping plants,
acreage irrigated with pumped water,
and the average annual cost of main
tenance and operation The acreage
irrigated is classified by the type of
enterprise supplying water and by the
source of water supply.
The act of congress of February 25,
1910, under which the census of irri-
cation is being taken, provides for col
lecting full information concerning the
location, character, and cost of irriga-
ton enterprises under national, 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 irriga-
ton.
It should be noted that the figures
are subject to revision. after more
complete tabulation, but it is not ex-
-ss,I
modification of the totals or percent
ages reported.
Acreage, Equipment and Cost.
The total number of farms irrigated
in 1909 was 1,006, against 919 in 1899,
an increase of II, or S.3 per cent
farms in the state increased but "a
per cent. The per cent of the whole
number of farms irrigated in 1909 was
0.6 and in 1899 it was 0.5, showing that
in neither year was irrigation an i'm
pOrtant factor in Kansas agriculture.
The total acreage irrigated in 1909
was 81, ,479 acres, against %, $40 acres
in 1899, an increase of 1889, or 5S.7
per cent. During the same period the
improved land in farms increased but
1872 per cent. The irrigated area ex-
tended more rapidly than the improved
area, although the percentages of the
improved land irrigated is so small at
both census periods that it is almost
negligible.
The total acreage which all enter
prises were capable of supplying with
water in 1910 was 139,995 acres. an
excess of 102,516 acres over the area
irrigated in 1909, showing that the
area irrigated can be more than
doubled without the construction of
new works The acreage included in
projects completed or under cOnstruc-
ton in 1910 was 161, 300 acres. an ex-
cess of 1913, ,S21 acres over the area
irrigated in 1909. This indicates, in
he P f1-7-fr Tod
land which will be available for settle
ment within the next few years.
The number of independent enter
prises in 1909 was 716. against 706 in
1899, an increase of 10, or IA per
cent The length of bitches reported
in 1909 was 281 miles. against 324 in
1899, a decrease of 43, or 1873 per
cent. In Kansas many enterprises
have been abandoned from time to
time while new ones have been tax |
en- up. The enterprises reported in |
1909 are, consequently, not necessarily |
the same as those reported in 1899 |
This accounts for the decrease in the |
number of Independent enterprises.
The number of reservoirs in 1909 |
was AZ, with a combined capacity of |
31,024 acre-feet. But three flowing |
wells used for irrigation were report |
ed The number of pumped wells /
used for irrigation was 939, and the
number of pumping plants 6S4. Two |
plants with large numbers of wells
pumped This accounts for the excess
in the number of wells over the num-
Der of pumping plants. The engine I
capacity of pumping plants, excluding I
windmills, was Lip horsepower. The |
acreage irrigated with pumped water
n 1909 was 1879 acres. This does
not include the acreage under the
Garden City project of the United /
states reclamation service, which re-
,eived water from both the Arkansas
liver and pumped wells. These wells
we're operated in 1908 and 1909. but
have not been used since, and this
and has received only river water
since 1909.
The total cost of irrigation systems
o July 1, 1910. was reported as ST.
365,563, against $529,755 in 1899. an
Increase of $S35. sos. or 1878 per cent
The average cost per acre to which
were ready to supply water
n 1910 was $9-75. The area under
hitch was not reported in 1899 but
he average cost per acre actually ir-
-igated in 1899 was $22.43, or $126S
more than the average per acre un-
Ter bitches in 1910. Several large
bitches built in Kansas prior to 1899
never were used to their full capacity
and were largely abandoned at that
ime This made the average cost Der