*This includes three ditch systems, embracing 207 miles, incompleted when estimates were made. The sixteen ditches given do not include the laterals. At an average estimate of 400 acres per ditch the mileage would be over 600. Estimated on the basis of 2 miles per ditch serving 400 acres. This is near enough for an approximate estimate; below rather than above the facts. § The 34 miles are the definite lengths given of new ditch systems; the balance is an estimate. The Geological Survey estimates 740,350 acres as irrigated in 1889. The Society of Civil Engineers presented for Montana a report which is tabulated as follows: Other statistics show that there were in 1869, of mining ditches 2873 miles constructed, at a cost of $806,500. The present extent, including these-as many have been used for irrigation purposes also-is now estimated at 1,000 miles. There are now partially or wholly completed the following larger or district systems, constructed for rental investment by corporations: Report to the U. S. Geological Survey by R. S. Tarr, estimates 500,000 acres under cultivation. Assessors return made the total 348,102 acres. The statistics of the committee show the following: *These are estimates made on a uniform basis of 300 acres to each ditch and of laterals 3 miles in length. The Mormon Church returns of irrigation quoted by Major Powell, for 1889, puts the land "under irrigation" at 802,456 acres, that is, "under ditch." Actually irrigated that year the area is given at 371,437 by farming 66,191 arable, but not irrigated 2,525,403 acres. For Oregon, estimates of the U. S. Geological Survey presented by the Director to the committee are here given: Eastern Washington's irrigated area is given by the committee at 75,000 acres "under ditch," and 50,000 acres as irrigated. That of Nevada is stated at 142,000 acres under ditch, of which 75,000 are cultivated by irrigation. For the Golden States returns are conflicting, but the following is a fair statement of Irrigation ditches and areas in California.* In the San Joaquin Valley, counties of Fresno, Merced, Kern, and In the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino.. In the remaining part of the State, twenty-four counties, where Counting one-third of the mining ditches in the State as available and used for small irrigation, we have... Total........ Without question the total valuation or cost is much below the true figures. Much of the data on which the estimates are based is taken from the assessors' returns made for the purpose of taxation. They can therefore be doubled. That will give a total cost of at least $20,000,000. The acreage is as difficult to arrive at with certainty, but it can be fairly and moderately stated as follows: The total acreage wholly under ditch and now irrigated is fairly within the annexed totals: If all the areas directly cultivated by the aid of natural subirrigation, etc., be added, the total area in California will certainly be not less than 3,500,000 acres. The point of interest, however, in these figures is the profitable character of such cultivation, especially in the matter of fruitraising. * From report of majority of Senate Committee on Irrigation, 1890. ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, TEXAS, AND KANSAS. 167 Major Powell's statement, from "Irrigation in United States," first edition, 1886, gives these figures Under ditches, constructed or projected.. Irrigated, etc.... ... Acres. 6, 000, 000 3,000,000 The same authority reports the following Irrigation ditches and areas in Arizona. These figures are entirely taken from county reports. The ditch system constructing in Yuma County will, when completed, have a total length of 241 miles and an acreage of 207,000. The total cost will be $1,318,000, or nearly $5,500 per mile. The canals under way in Maricopa County will, when completed, cover 404,900 acres and have a total length of 425 miles. Apache County reports 150,000 acres reclaimed, Pima County 2,500,000 acres, and Cochise 310,000 acres. Of the area "under ditch" about two-thirds are actually cultivated. For Arizona the Geological Survey estimates all reclaimable, 1,650,000 acres; under ditch, 455,600 acres; actually cultivated, 203,080 acres. Engineer Newell for the same territory estimates only 175,000 acres as cultivated through irrigation. Western Texas, that is the arid section west of the one hundredth meridian, has been making rapid strides. Its total area irrigated and under ditch, after careful inquiry is placed at 200,000 acres "under ditch" and 125,000 actually cultivated. Southwest Kansas in 1889 suffered largely from the drought. "Under ditch" were 300,000 acres, nearly all in the Upper Arkansas Valley, while but 75,000 acres were cultivated by actual irrigation. The following table gives the official census figures of 1885: Under date of June 24, 1889, T. B. Mills, of Las Vegas, N. Mex., makes the following estimate: Projected ditches and ditches under construction will serve in addition, 722,000 acres. A most careful student and engineer, L. G. Carpenter, professor of irrigation engineering and meteorologist in the State Agricultural College, presented in his annual college report (January, 1890) the following approximate estimate of Division II (Arkansas Division): East of the Huerfano River.... La Veta and Apache Upper Arkansas and Fontaine. Division III (Rio Grande Division) Division IV (San Juan Division), including Dolores, Mancos, Pine, Florida, La Plata Rivers, Division V (Grand River Division) Division VI (Bear and White River Division). Total.. Area. Total area. Sq. miles. Sq. miles. Acres. 283. 21 By this table the total amount of land under ditch in Colorado at present is not far from 4,500 square miles, or 3,000,000 acres. The amount of land actually irrigated can not be so reliably estimated at present. It is much less than that under ditch. Professor Carpenter estimates the total irrigated as not over one-third. This is apparently below the actual results. State Engineer Maxwell reported the following figures as a careful statement of the area east of the Rocky Mountains: In the three eastern divisions there are also one hundred and sixtytwo reservoirs, with a record capacity of 5,319,939,788 cubic feet, capable of furnishing 1 acre-foot of water to each of 122,199 acres. The total number of ditches, large and small, in the State is estimated at 2,000, and their mileage at 5,000. The duty of water is placed at 1.45 cubic feet per second for 80 acres. In some sections it is over 100 acres, however. West of the range in the Grand River, Mesa County, Uncompahgre, and other sections, there were 110,000 acres actually irrigated. estimate of E. S. Nettleton, the leading engineer of the State, reached for 1889, one of water scarcity, to 1,300,000 acres. From the various The |