58 



and will iDrobably extend on into Nebraska. Supposing the use in 

 Colorado is stopped and supposing the water reaches Nebraska, the 

 return seepage, which will not be as great as it is in Colorado (see p. 

 56) will reach the stream below where water is needed for irriga- 

 tion, and there will be but one use of water where now it is used over 

 and over. 



Considered from an economic standpoint, the maintenance of the 

 present status means the largest possible use of the water supply, 

 since irrigation begins where the streams issue from their canyons, 

 allowing the fullest opportunity for seepage return to the streams. It 

 means the preservation of the homes and industries of the South 

 Platte Valley in Colorado and the maintenance of the institutions 

 which are the outgrowth of nearly a half century's experience, while 

 Nebraska will receive a gradually increasing supply of water, which 

 will eventually be better than would result from the stopping of 

 irrigation in Colorado. 



BIGHTS TO WATER FRON NORTH PLATTE RIVER AND 



TRIBUTARIES. 



COLORADO. 



The course of the North Platte lies in three States. The nature of 

 rights to the use of water in Colorado has been discussed on page 

 26. In "Wyoming, up to 1890, rights were acquired by diverting 

 water and using it, but since that time they have been acquired by 

 securing a permit from the State engineer, constructing works, and 

 using the water. Hights acquired prior to 1890 are defined by the 

 board of control, on the testimony of the interested parties and on sur- 

 veys and measurements made by the State engineer and his assist- 

 ants. Water-right holders are entitled to sufficient water for stated 

 areas, with the limitation that no more than 1 cubic foot per second 

 can be used for 70 acres. 



The North Platte and its tributaries in Colorado are in districts 46 

 and 47. Irrigation began in these districts in the early eighties and the 

 rights were first adjudicated in 1892. The records of these adjudi- 

 cations show that in both districts the rights were based on the areas 

 actually irrigated and were computed on the assumption that in dis- 

 trict 46 one cubic foot per second will supply 40 acres and in district 47 

 it will supply 50 acres. AMiere a right computed in this way exceeded 

 the capacity of the ditch which served the land the right was limited 

 to the capacity of the ditch. 



Second adjudications took place in 1900 for district 46 and in 1902 

 for district 47. In these adjudications the rights of those who were 

 not represented in the first one and of those who acquired rights since 

 these adjudications were defined. They were computed in the same 



