38 



in lots rather than in even fractions of a section. As a rule, there- 

 fore, riparian rights extend to small areas only. The right of the 

 riparian owner is to a reasonable use of water for irrigation, taking 

 into consideration a like" reasonable use by all other riparian owners. 

 It is therefore impossible to make any statement of the volume of 

 water to Avhich these riparian lands are entitled. Under the com- 

 mon-law doctrine the right of a riparian proprietor certainly goes 

 no further than to have the stream continue to flow " as it was wont 

 to flow." The flow of the stream in this section from the earliest 

 exploration of this region has been extremely uncertain, the stream 

 going dry in many years and being extremely low in parts of almost 

 every year. (See p. 46.) It is therefore very doubtful whether 

 these riparian proprietors could secure any damages due to shortage 

 of water, since the ditch owners could probably prove that during the 

 season when there is a scarcity of water the river was wont to run 

 dry. 



The following table brings together all the decreed rights to water 

 from South Platte River and tributaries, by years: 



Rights to irater from iSoiith Platte River and trihutaries. 



Year. 



1859. 

 1860_ 

 1861. 



1863.. 

 1864.. 

 1865.. 

 1866.. 

 1867.. 

 1868.. 

 1869.. 

 1870.. 

 1871. 

 1872.. 

 1873. 

 1874- 

 1875. 

 1876. 

 1877. 

 1878. 

 1879. 

 1880- 

 1881. 

 1882. 

 1883- 

 1884. 

 1885. 

 1886. 

 1887. 

 1888. 

 1889. 

 1890. 

 1891. 

 1892- 

 1893- 



1895. 

 1896. 

 1897. 



Colorado. 



Rights 

 acquired. 



Sum to 

 date. 



1, 



Cubic feet 

 per sec. 

 128.43 

 389.86 

 533.85 

 755.28 

 7&>. 46 

 605. 94 

 422.79 



514. 70 

 481. 82 

 285. 90 

 245. 31 



1,190.99 



1,736.47 



999.90 



2,031.83 



937.96 



1,048.68 



731.47 



698. 65 



1,619.09 



2, 493. 66 



629. 19 



2,171.40 



1,591.72 



377. 21 



693.65 



619. 78 



318. 71 

 183. 87 



1,:W4.29 

 126.60 



a3.oo 



35.00 

 25.00 



102.28 

 42.00 



825. 86 

 50.00 

 50.00 

 60.00 



Cubic feet 



per sec. 



128. 43 



518.29 



1,052.14 



1,807.42 



2, 572. 88 



3, 178. 82 



4,601.61 



5,116.31 



5,598.13 



5,884.03 



6, 129. 34 



7, 320. S3 



9,0.56.80 



10,056.70 



12,08S..53 



13,026.49 



14,075.17 



14,806.64 



15, 505. 29 



17,124.38 



19,681.04 



20,247.23 



22,418.63 



24,010.35 



24,387.56 



25,081.21 



25,7(X).99 



26, 019. 70 



26,203.57 



27.507.86 



27,6:«.46 



27,666.46 



27,701.46 



27, 726. 46 



27,828.74 



27,870.74 



2S,(;96.6I) 



2K,74t;.6() 



28, 796. 60 



28,856.60 



Nebraska. 



Total. 



Rights 

 acquired. 



Cubic feet 

 per sec. 



Sum to 

 date. 



82.86 



49.14 



169. 93 



222.00 



6.29 



Cubic feet 

 per sec. 



82.86 

 132.00 

 301.93 

 .523. 93 

 530.22 



Sum to 

 date. 



Cubic feet 



per sec. 



128. 43 



518. 29 



1,0.52.14 



1,807.42 



2,572.88 



3, 178. 82 



4,601.61 



5,116.31 



5,. 598. 13 



5,884.03 



6, 129. 34 



7,320.33 



9,056.80 



10,0.56.70 



12, 088. 53 



13,026.49 



14.075.17 



14,.H06.64 



15, .505. 29 



17,124.:« 



19,(i81.04 



20, 247. 2:3 



22,418.63 



24,010.35 



24,;W.56 



25,081.21 



25,700.99 



26,019.70 



26,203.57 



27,507.86 



27,6:33.46 



27,666.46 



27,701.46 



27,7;>6.46 



27,828.74 



2r,9.'j:3.60 



28,801. :39 



29,9:3:3.32 



:30,007.25 



30,597.47 



