43 



ments of tho flow of the stream and the diversions in district 8 were 

 made. The flow where the river enters this district was 91.85 cubic 

 feet per second. Tiie flow at Denver, where the river leaves the dis- 

 trict, was 46.30) cubic feet per second, while the diversion between the 

 two points amounted to IS-t.oS cubic feet per second, showinjj: that 

 there was diverted almost 50 per cent more water than was flowinjjj 

 past the gauging station, while there remained in the stream at the 

 loAver end of the district half as nnich water as there was enterin<r at 

 the head of the district. 



Distributing water in accordance with the rights is not, therefore, 

 a simple division of a fixed quantity of water, in accordance with a 

 definite table of priorities. In order that rights to a certain volume 

 in the lower districts be supplied it is not always necessary to allow 

 this volume to flow down from the upper districts, but it may be sup- 

 plied to the stream by seepage. Again, there are sections of the river 

 Avhere water, if turned down for loAver ditches, would be lost by sink- 

 ing in the sand or by evaporation, so that it could not reach the heads 

 of the lower ditches. So long as a water-right holder secures his 

 proper supply of water it is a matter of indifference to him what is 

 done above him on the stream. Physical conditions, therefore, have 

 a gi-eat deal to do with the relations of rights. 



The right of the riparian proprietor is not to enough water to irri- 

 gate his riparian land, but to a reasonable use of what water flowed 

 naturally to his land. This raises the question as to what water 

 naturally flowed in the South Platte River at the time these riparian 

 lands were acquired, and as to what influence irrigation above has 

 had on any changes which may have taken place in the flow of the 

 stream since that time. To determine this, in the absence of the 

 records of the flow of the stream in early years, it has been necessary 

 to collect the testimony of settlers and travelers as to early conditions 

 and to make measurements to determine the present eftect of diver- 

 sions on the upper sections of the stream upon the flow of the stream 

 in the lower section. Such measurements have been carried on for a 

 number of years by the Colorado Agricultural College and Experi- 

 ment Station, and by the State engineer's office of Colorado, and 

 during the season of 1903 a series of similar measurements was made 

 by Mr. C. E. Tait, of this Office, and Prof. O. V. P. Stout, of the 

 University of Nebraska. The testimony as to the early conditions on 

 the river and the measurements of return seepage are brought to- 

 gether in the following pages. 



The published reports of early travels and explorations along the 

 South Platte River give little deflnite information as to its flow. 



Long's expedition crossed the South Platte June 20, 18-20. He 

 described the Platte River as follows: '" It is about 9,000 yards wide 



