Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1911-10-14
NEVADA LANDS
AND IRRIGATION


official statement from the Census Blu
reau relative to the statistics OH irriga-
ton in Nevada.
1t is based on a preliminary compare.
tive summary submitted by DR.. lie
Grand Powers, chief statistician for the
division of agriculture in the Bureau OF
the Census, under whose supervision it
was prepared by r. =. Teele, special
agent in charge of irrigation. This
summary shows for both 1909 and 1899
the number of farms irrigated, the acre
age irrigated, total length of bitches,
the total cost of irrigation systems, and
the average cost per acre irrigated 1t
shows for the year 1910 the acreage
which existing enterprises were capable
of supplying, the acreage included in ex-
listing projects, the number of independ-
ent enterprises, number of reservoirs
capacity of reservoirs, number of flowing
wells, number of wells pumped for irri-
cation, the number of pumping plants.
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 IS,
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 under national, state or pri-
vate control; the acreage of land irri-
gated; the prices at which land with wa
ter rights can be obtained; and the guam
tity OF water used for irrigation.
1t should be notedthat the figures are
subject to revision, after more complete
tabulation, but it is not expected that
there wll be any material modification
of the totals or percentages reported.
The total number of farms irrigated
in 1909 was :, 4O6, against | 900 in 1899,
an increase of 500, or 262 per cent.
Within the same period the number of
farms i'll the State increased 505 per
cent. The per cent of the whole num-
Der of farms irrigated in 1909 was 50 5,
and in 1899 ii was 925
The total acreage irrigated in 1909 was
709, 0lS acres, against 504, l6S acres in
1899, an increase of 204 $50 acres, or
900 per cent. The irrigated area ex-
tended more rapidly than the improved
area, which increased during the ten
years by 3 per cent. This fact, to-
gether with the large percentage OF all
farms which were irrigated, shows the
great extent to which agriculture in gen
eral is dependent OH irrigation in Ne
vada.
The total acreage which enterprises
were capable Of supply with water in
1910 was $40, go acres, an excess of l3l,
9l4 acres over the area irrigated in 1909
The area included i'll projects either
completed or under construction in 1910
acres over the area irrigated in 1909.
This indicates the area which will be
available within the next few wears for
he extension of irrigation, and shows
that the area irrigated can be almost
doubled without the construction of addi-
tioua works.
The number of independent enter
prises reported in 1910 was ,Sl7. The
total length of all bitches in 1910 was
;, 100 miles, against $50 miles i'll 1899,
an increase of 247 miles, or SO per cent.
The length of bitches reported for 1910.
,9OS miles, were i'll main bitches, and
! 1873 in laterals. The number OF reser-
voirs reported was Ill. having a COM
bined capacity of 325, S75 acre-feet. The
number of wells pumped for irrigation
was six and the number OF pumping
plants Is. The engine capacity OF pump
ing plants was 4S6 horsepower. The
acreage irrigated with pumped water was
go acres. The total cost of irrigation
system reported in 1910 was 50, oo4 SS5,
against 81, S33, 927 in 1899 an increase of
IS, l30, 900, or 354 per cent. The av-
erage cost per acre in 1910 was 1913,
against sos in 1899, an increase of
SS,SS, or 2So.S per cent. The average
cost of operating and maintenance per
acre i'll 1909 was 80 cents, against Is
cents in 1899 an increase OF u cents, or
400 per cent.
The acreage irrigated in 1909 has been
classified according to the State and Fed
eral laws under which the works were
built or are operated, as follows: Uni
ted States reclamation service (Act OF
Congress, June II, 1902, 81, lS5 acres,
or So per cent OF the total; United States
Indian service various Acts OF Con
gress), 1857 acres, or "a per cent OF the
total; cooperative enterprises, 7S, goo
acres, or II Il per cent; commercial EN-
terprses, $500 acres, or l.3 per cent;
and private and partnership enterprises,
5Sl 400 acres, or 81 per cent. No irri-
til toll ~ lNlTRN