The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-16
CENSUS SHOWS 54.3
Per CENT OF INDIANA
FARMS ARE DRAINED
BY WILLIAM r. sANBoRN


state of Indiana is just from press. 1t
is as of jan l. 1920 the dating of the
United States census, which means
that the recordings we're made back in
1919 and though fresh from Washing
ton the real records are now three
years old. In the elapsing of this time
the work of draining certain territor-
les and hundreds of individual farms
has been progressing in the usual way
Nevertheless the census returns are
valuable for reference and for the sup
plying of approximate data on TINS I'M
portant subject
Roger D. Marsden. special agent in
charge of drainage matters at Wash
ington, is responsible for the state
ments and figures given out He be-
gins by stating that the number of all
farms in Indiana ON date of his COM
pilation was 205 126, and of these ILL.,
435 farms reported land having more
or less drainage, these being 54.3 per
cent OF the farm land in the state. On
top of this showing was the presenta-
ton of 66,413 farms which it was
claimed needed drainage. or 32.4 per
cent The combined figures showed
that Sc Z per cent of all the farms in
Indiana required drainage for proper
farm operations.
The data relates to the artificial
drainage of land in farms and of other
organized drainage projects, including
areas of unimproved land not yet in
farms 1t is explained that the farm
drainage statistics were collected in
the general census of agriculture,
while figures relating to general drain
age were obtained in special canvass
of such enterprises. The paper before
us presents the two sets of statistics
under separate headings.
21,o63, 332 Acres
The census gives the approximate
land area of Indiana as 21,063,332, and
the total land in all drainage enter
prises as 9,0S7,1 acres. OF these
acres 1906, sos acres are improved
lands. The balance of the lands af-
fected by drainage enterprises are
timber or cut-over areas and other I'M
improved lands
The first drainage law of Indiana
dates back 20 years. 1t was approved
on May 20, 1852. Itprovides for the sale
of swamp lands by the county audit
tors and treasurers. 1t further provld-
ed for the appointment by the COVER
nor of a drainage commissioner for
each county. The commissioners were
authorized to plan the drainage of the
land and to let contracts for the work.
The cost of such enterprises was to
be paid from the proceeds of the sale
of such land. Sine THAT'S hrdtaoird
of such land. Since that time whole
mass of drainage legislation has been
enacted
Character of Enterprises
The drainage enterprises of the
state are classified as incorporated
associations, county commissioners
drains, circuit court drains and drain
age districts.
An analysis of the census figures
shows that of the total drainage en-
terprises in the state 33 per cent re-
late to the actual drainage of i'm
proved farm lands. The total of all
improved farms in Indiana covers
16.6S0,212 acres.
Drainage of agricultural land was
defined for census purposes as the
"act or process of drawing off an eX
cess of water by underground con,
Quits, pipes or tiles, or by open OF
covered trenches in the surface OF the
ground for the purpose of improving
the condition of the soil and crops
An interesting map is a portion OF
this report 1t shows the amount O
drainage done in various parts OF tnt
state, a total of 12,004 separate prof
ects, with an average of 1,251 acre:
assessed.
The usual purpose of an ORGANIZED
drainage enterprise is to provide ade
quate outlets into which the landown
ers of the district may drain thel
farms, and to afford relief from ove1
flows for the district as unit Ther
are ia such enterprises in the state
covering 10000 acres and up, ais
2.611 comprising 1000 to 5000 acres
Land and Capital Invested
Under the heading Organized Ell
terprises" we find that operating er
terprises now cover 9,0S7,123 acre
and that these are listed as incol
porated associations, county commi;
sioners drains. circuit court drains
drainage districts and commercial an
individual projects. AS to the cost c
such enterprises up to Jan, /, 1920 tn
figures are given as S31 .201,517. 1t
further stated that it was estimate
that S2729.055 would be required t
complete the work as specified. 0
the same date there were non-opera
ing enterprises covering 2SS,724 acre
of land. which would require $1,933,OO
for completion This makes a tots
of less than $36,000,000 invested in ou
drainage projects, not large SUI
when the acreage covered and tn
value of the lands are considers
This has no relation to the sums speI
by individual farmers for the tilin
and other drainage on their person;
holdings.
Completed Drainage
The total works completed by I'll
various drainage enterprises TO ia
/. 1920, comprised 17,470.7 miles
open bitches; S,2276 of tile drain
and 1863 miles of accessory levee
At the same TIME there were undo
construction 1894 miles of ope
bitches, 1857 miles of tile drains, ar
81 miles of levees These figures {
not include drains or levees Unstable
by individual farmers. There are fol-
pumping districts in the state. TT
six pumps have total capacity
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