The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1911-10-14
IRRIGATED FARM
. IS GROWING FAST
STATISTICS N THIs STATE SHOW
IN TEN YEARS An INCREASE or
NEARLY FORTY FOUR FER
CENT.
United Press Bcrvics

Census Bur-au relative 10 the statis-
ties on irrigation In Oregon. II Ia
based on a preliminary comparative
summary submitted by DR.. lie Grand
Powers. chief statistician for the divl.
sion of agriculture In the Bureau of
Census. under whose supervision II
wns prepared by X. r. Teclc. special
agent In charge Of irrigation.
This summary shows for both 1909
and 1910 the number Of farms irri-
gated. the acreage irrigated. the total
cost Of irrigation systems. and the
n, cragc cost per acre irrigated. II
shows also for the year 1909 acreage
irrigated with pumped water and the
average annual cost OF maintenance
and operation. II shows for 1910 the
acreage which existing enterprises
were capable Of supplying; the acre
age included In existing projects. the
number Of Independent enterprises.
total length Of ditchcs. number Of res
rvoirs. capacity Of reservoirs, number
u flowing wells. number Of wells
pumped for irrigation. the number Of
pumping plants. and engine capacity
u pumping plants. The acreage irri-
gated Is classified by the type Of on
IorprAc supplying water and by the
source Of water supply.
The net Of Congress Of February 2b.
1910. under which the census Of irri-
CATION Is being taken. provides for col.
iccting full Information concerning
the location. character, and cost Of
irrigation enterprises under national.
state. or private control; tho acreage
Of land irrigated: the price at which
land with water rights can be oh
aimed. and the quality Of water used
ior irrigation.
II should be noted that the figures
are subject 10 revision after more
com piete tabulation. but Il 10 not q.
poctcd that there win be any material
modification OF the totals or precent-
ages reported.
The total number Of farms irri-
gated In 1909 was G66s. against
1886 In 1899. an increase OF 2.O33. or
+3.9 per cent. Within tho same
period the number Of farms In the
In the state had Increased 81 per cent.
Indicating that irrigation 10 Increasing
more rapidly than dry farming In the
state.
The total acreage irrigated N 1909
was 6s6.l29 rcres. against 3SS.Sl0
acres In 1899. an increase Of 2s7.S1S
acres. or 1871 per cent. During the
same period the improved acreage Of
farms increased asa per cent. indicat.
Ing again the rapid advance Of irriga-
ton The area irrigated was ls.i per
cent OF the improved land In farms In
1909 aud III per cent In 1899.
Tho total acreage which all enter
priscs were capable of irrigating In
1910 was S30.5s6 acres. IN excess OF
1887 acres over the ares irrigated
in 1909. The acreage Included In pro-
jccts either completed OF under con.
struction In 1910 was 2.b37.30S acres
an excess Of l.sai.07s acres over the
area irrigated In 1909. This indicates
the area which will be available with.
In the next few years for the oxtention
Of irrigation. and shows that the area
irrigated can bc almost tripled with.
out the construction OF additional
works.
The number Of independent enter
prises reported In 1910 was 3.7<B.
Tho total length Of main bitches In
1910 was 5.6%s miles. against 3.3eS
miles In 1899. an increase Of S.3es
miles. or l&7.% per cont. The numbeS
OF reservoirs reported In 1910 vas
276, having = combined capacity Of
i.Si7.370 acre-feet. The number Of
wells pumped for irrigation vas 81
and tho number Of pumping plants
s2s. The engine capacity OF pumping
plants was s,a7s horsepower. The
acreage irrigated with pumped water
was b.7ll acres.
The total cost OF irrigation systsma
reported In 1910 was ela.sse.ot%,
against e1.s%3.77i In 1893. an In
crease Of el0.s%b.s7s. or Sss.a PEI
cent. The average cost per acre In
1910 was Sib.3s against Cats In
1899. or an increase OF elo63. o.
aal.7 per cent. The average cost ol
operation aud maintainancs per acra
In 1909 was Is cents. against - eeatl
In 1899. an increase OF 50 cents. oi
2t0.s per cent. ,
The acreage irrigated 10 1909 hal
been classified according TO the statl
Federal laws under which the voskl
were built or are operated. - follows
United States Reclamation oervio(
TACT OF Congress. June ~. 1901, -.