The Parker post., 1911-12-23
IRRIGATED FARMS
BEST INVESTMENT
Hundreds of Millions Expended Past
Ten Years in Reclamation of Arid
Lands-Report of Census Director
Shows Great Increase

the ceusus, department of commerce
and labor, has issued the first Off
cial statement relative to he stati-
tics of irrigation in the United States
collected as a part Of the thirteenth
census.
The total number of farms irriga
, ted in 1909 in the arid and semi-arid
states, comprising all parts of Arizo-
ma, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kan
sas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ne,
Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Or
egon, South Dakota, Utah, Washing
ton, Wyoming and part of Texas was
157 1926, against 107,716 in 1899, an
increase of 5O,416, or 466 per cent.
Between '99 and 1909 the whole num-
ber of farms i'm the states mentioned
increased 31.3 per cent. Additional ir-
rigated- farms, totaling 1920, in the
rice belt of Arkansas, Louisiana and
Texas, and 2228 others in the humid
states, most of which were truck gar
dening, were also reported The to-
tai number of farms on which irriga-
ton was practiced in continental Uni
ted States was 164, ,410 in 1909,
against 1O8,218 in 1899, an Increase
of Sc, 1872, or 51.9 per cent.
The total acreage irrigated in the
arid and semi-arid states was 49,
739, ,499 acres in 1909, against 1921
$50 acres in 1899, an increase Of g.
211, ,809 acres, or 82.5 per cent The
area included in projects either COM
pleted or under construction was, in
the arid and semi-arid states, 1,112,-
10 acres in 1910, an excess of H.
1851 acres over the acreage irri-
gated in 1909. These figures indicate
in a general way the area which will
be- available within the next few
years for the extension of irrigation,
and show that the area irrigated In
1909 can be more tssian doubled W
out undertaking new enterprises.
The number Of Independent enter
prises reported In 1910 In the arid
and semi-arid states was 54,669. T
total length of all bitches was 1885,
615 miles, of which 1886 miles were
in main canals and 1929 miles ir
laterals. The number of reservoirs
reported was 1888. The engine ca
pacity of pumping plants was 207 ,241
horsepower The acreage irrigated
with pumped water was Ats, ,288 acres.
Flowing wells supplied water to 1885,
$50 acres.
The total cost of irrigation sys-
TENS reported in the arid and sem
arid states was $304, ,450 in 1910
against $67,482,261 in 1899, an increaG
of$237 ,217, ,1S9, or 351.5 per cent. The
average cost per acre was S15.76 In
1910, against $3.50 in 1899, an increas
of $6.87, or 77.3 per cent. The av-
erage cost of operation and mainte-
nance per acre was SLOT in 1909. The
cost of all plants in the rice states
was $12,877,S52 making $317, ,576,802
the total cost of all enterprises re-
porting in 1910, except those In the
humid states.
The most striking fact brought Oh:
by these figures is the very large
percentage Of the irrigated acreage
operated by cooperative, individual
and partnership enterprises. Of the
acreage irrigated in 1909 about "a
per cent was controlled by such
enterprises, inclusive of irrigation dis
tricts. Of the remaining 16 per cent
have been classified as commercial
enterprises-those supplying water to
parties who have no interest in, the
works. The 6 per cent left Is divid-
ed as follows: Reclamation service.
3 per cent; Carey act enterprises, 2
per cent, and Indian service, per
cent. AS there are large enterprises
in course of development the figures
for 1909 do not fully represent the
situation. The figures showing the
acreage the plants were capable Of
irrigating in 1910 give the reclama-
ton service about per cent Of the
total, the Carey act about per cent
of the total, and the Indian service
about 2 per cent. OF the acreage in
cluded In projects, the reclamation
service shows about per cent, the
Carey act about 8 per cent, and the
Indian service about per cent.
All reclamation and Carey act enter
prises and many of the commercial
enterprises are eventually to become
cooperative. Chasing these with the
others already under the control of
the water users there Is less than 10
per cent of the acreage irrigated In
1909 served by enterprises which are
not now or will not soon be controll-
ed by those who use the water.