The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-12-12
BUREAU ISSUES |R-
RICAT|ON BULLETIN
Especial to the Silver state.l

department of commerce and labor, has
issued the first official statement rela-
tive to the statistics of irrigation in
the United States. collected as a part
of the thirteenth census. The state
ment is based on a preliminary com
parative summary submitted by Dr.
lie Grand Powers, chief statistician
for the division of agriculture in the
bureau of the census, under whose su-
peryision 1t was prepared by X. :
feeple, speciai agent in charge of irri-
CATION The figures are subject to re-
vision after more complete tabulation
but 1T is not expected that there will
be any material modification of the
totals or percentages reported
Acreage, Equipment and Cost
The total number of farms irrigated
in 1909 in the arid and semi arid
states, comprising all or parts of Ari-
zona, Nevada, California, Colorado.
Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska,
New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklaho-
ma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah.
Washington, Wyoming and part of
Texas, was l57 ,s62, against 107 ZIG in
1899, an increase of 50,146, or 46.6 per
cent. Between 1899 and 1909 the whole
number of farms in the states men
toned increased 31.3 per cent. Addi-
tional irrigated farms. totaling 1920.
in the rice belt of Arkansas. Louisiana
and Texas, and 2,22S others in the
humid states, most of which were
truck gardens, were also reported The
total number of farms on which irripa-
tion was practiced in continental
United States was 164,410 in 1909
against los, ,21s in 1899, an increase of
56, 6,l92, or 51.9 per cent.
The total acreage irrigated in the
arid and semi-arid states was 1879
499 acres in 1909, against 1921 500
acres in 1899, in increase of 6.21I 500
acres, or s2.5 per cent. In the rice
states 694,73 acres and in the humid
states 2s,9l9 acres were irrigated IN
1909, maging the total acreage irrigat
ed l4,4o3,l4 acres in 1909 against =
539 ,545 acres in 1899, an increase of
6.923,6 COB, or 91.S per cent. In the arid
and semi arid states alone the acreage
which all enterprises were capable of
irrigating in 1910 was 1885, acres. /
an excess of 5,596,212 acres over the /
acreage irrigated in 1909 The area
included in projects either completed /
or under construction was. in the arid |
and semi-arid states, 31.l12.I10 acres I
in 1910, an excess Of 17,372,61l acres !
over the acreage irrigated in 1909. |
These figures indicate in a general way /
the area which will be available with !
in the next few years for the exten. |
sion of irrigation, and show that the |
area irrigated in 1909 can be more
than doubled without undertaking /
new enterprises.
The number of independent enter
prises reported in 1910 in the arid and /
states was $4,000 The total Z
length of all bitches was 125,615 miles, /
Of which 1886 miles were in main
canals and 3S,279 miles in laterals. The /
number of reservoirs reported was
1898, having a combined capacity of /
l2,S72,256 acre-feet. The number of
wells pumped for irrigation was IA
IA, and the number of all pumping
plants 1881. The engine capacity of
plants was 07,241 horsepow-
er. The acreage irrigated with pumped
water was 47S,2sS acres. Flowing wells
supplied water to 125, 500 acres.
The total cost of irrigation systems
in the arid and semi-arid
states was 1904 4,699,4 in 1910,
against $67 ,4s2,26 in 1899. an in.
'rease of $237 7,2l7, ,ls9. or 351.5 per
'ent. The average cost per acre was
Sl5.16 in 1910, against $3.50 in 1899,
IN increase of $6.s7, or 77.3 per cent.
The average cost of operation and
per acre was $l.07 in
1909. The cost of all plants in the rice
tates was $12,s77 1852, making $317,-
'16,s02 the total cost of all enter
'rises reporting in 1910, except those
n the humid states. No report was
ecured ON cost of enterprises in the
lumid states, for the reason that wa
er for irrigation in those states is usu-
lily obtained from city waterworks or
'ther plants not constructed primarily
or irrigation purposes.
by Type of Enterprise
and by Source Of Supply.
The acreage irrigated in 1909 in the
rid and semi-arid states has been
lassiied according to the state and
ederal laws under which the works
we're built or are operated, as fol
ows: United States reclamation ser
ice .(act of congress, June II, 1902,
99,646 acres, or 30 per cent of the
otal; United States Indian service
various acts of congress), 172,9l2
cres, or 1.2 per cent of the total;
'arey act (aet of congress, August Is,
s94) ,2SS,553 acres, or 81 per cent ir-
igation districts, 533, ,142 acres, or 80
er cent; cor-operative enterprises, 4,
5000 acres or 3S.s per cent; com
lereial enterprises, 1.444, 500 acres, or
0.6 per cent; and individual and part
ership enterprises, 6,25S, ,401 acres, O.
90 Der cent.
The most striking fact brought o
y these figures is the very large ~
entage Of the irrigated aeregge cac
te by cooperative indiv ,e3
enterprises. OF the acr
sc Irrigated in 1909 about 81 per cent
'rs controlled by such enterprises, in
'psive Of irrigation districts. OF the
emaiuing l6 per cent about 10 per
MT is included in what have been
asslfied as commercial enterprises i
use supplying water to parties who !
ave no interest i'm the works. The 1
Nnr cent laff Is 1ividaI no fnllnus. 1 4