144 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



matter is the cost of construction and with the ex- 

 perience of the past ten years the cost may be quite 

 accurately estimated, so that after the Reclamation 

 Service has passed upon the feasibility of the proj- 

 ect and approved it, there would be little risk upon 

 the part of the government in guaranteeing the in- 

 terest on the bonds. 



You have asked me for statistics as to irri- 

 gation in Idaho and I herewith submit the follow- 

 ing figures as to the number of acres reclaimed 

 under our different methods of reclamation : 



Acres 



Carey Act Lands 750,000 



U. S. Reclamation 300,000 



Irrigation Districts 250,000 



Co-operative Enterprises 450,000 



Private Enterprises 50,000 



U. S. Indian Service 3,500 



Total Acreage reclaimed 2,553,500 



The census reports of 1910 give the number of 

 miles of main canal in Idaho as 7,762 miles and the 

 number of miles of laterals as 5,097, or a total of 

 12,859. Since the census report was taken there 

 has been much activity in irrigation in Idaho and 

 it is safe to say that the total mileage of irrigation 

 canals in Idaho would reach the enormous figure of 

 15,000 miles. 



The area of land yet to be irrigated in Idaho 

 and for which there is a water supply is equivalent 

 to the area already reclaimed. The swampy or 

 overflow land in Idaho is not very extensive, but 

 we have very fertile valleys quite extensive, in area 

 that need reclamation by drainage. These valleys 

 are the Kootenai, Pend d'Oreille, St. Maries, St. Joe, 



Bear River, and Portneuff, and while I have no 

 statistics at hand in reference to the area, I should 

 judge it was in the neighborhood of 250,000 acres. 



The financial affairs of our various projects are 

 in excellent condition with the exception of some 

 of our Carey Act projects and some of our Dis- 

 trict projects. All others are absolutely in the 

 clear financially. Our Carey Act projects could 

 be turned into district projects, as is contem- 

 plated by the Jones bill, and any of them that 

 are in financial distress could take advantage of the 

 Jones bill upon the approval of their feasibility by 

 the Reclamation Service. 



The Jones bill is of special import to the state 

 of Idaho at this time. About a year ago our state 

 was compelled to take over the King Hill Irrigation 

 project in order to save the settlers from ruin. The 

 Carey Act company became absolutely bankrupt 

 and their bondholders refused to come to the rescue. 

 It was up to the state to take over the project and 

 maintain it or the settlers would be ruined. The 

 state bought in the project at court sale for a merely 

 nominal sum, wiping out the more than $1,000,000 

 indebtedness that stood against the property. It 

 will cost $500,000 to complete the works and make 

 them permanent, and there is a liberal equity in 

 the property and the government would be entirely 

 justified under the Jones bill in guaranteeing the 

 interest. 



Idaho is a young state with many burdens to 

 carry and therefore cannot afford to maintain and 

 complete irrigation projects. \Yith the Jones bill 

 in operation this burden could be taken off our 

 hands, and the projects completed, and the settlers 

 made prosperous, and the wealth and population of 

 the state made materially greater. 



MAKE A YEARLY INVENTORY ON YOUR FARM 



BY C. M. BENNETT 



THE young farmer who is endeavoring to build 

 up a more efficient and profitable business sel- 

 dom retains much cash. When money is received 

 he buys a new implement, another animal, improves 

 a building, or makes payments on bills for things 

 bought on credit. 



During the course of the year he may receive 

 and pay out large sums of money, leaving almost 

 no cash at the end of the year. The annual returns 

 may seem to have been only a fair living for him- 

 self and family, whereas the farm business may 

 have turned a good profit, which was invested from 

 month to month. Hence it is important for the 

 farmer's guidance and encouragement that he make 

 an annual inventory of his farm investments. 



This inventory should be a detailed list, with 

 values, of everything used in the farm business, 

 including land, buildings, livestock, machinery and 

 tools, produce for feed or sale, supplies, bills re- 

 ceivable, and cash ; also a list of all accounts and 

 bills owing. The difference between the total assets 

 and debts shows the net farm worth. 



A study of two successive inventories of a farm 

 in New York State illustrates how one young 



farmer on 100 acres prospered regardless of the 

 fact that he had almost no cash at the end of the 

 year. The total assets at the beginning of the year 

 amounted to $13,090, and to $13,400 at the end of 

 the same year, an increase of $310. The increased 

 investment in livestock, machinery and tools, and 

 more produce held for sale amounted to $1,073, but 

 this was partially offset by the cash decrease of 

 $763. The farm indebtedness was also reduced by 

 $253, thus making a total increase in net worth to 

 the farm business of $563. 



The inventory values covered all the deprecia- 

 tions and increases in values, so that this $563 was 

 net increase in the value of the farm investment. 

 It means that this sum was saved from the year's 

 business after all farm expenses had been paid, in- 

 cluding interest on borrowed money and all living 

 expenses. The amount of cash at the end of the 

 year, $133, proved to be no indication of the success 

 of the year's business. 



Test all seeds on hand. Flannel and blotting 

 paper are good materials to use. 



