66 



This table shows that the first rights in Wyoming were acquired 

 in 1885, and that prior to this there were in Colorado rights to 123.5 

 cubic feet per second. The principal volume of the rights in Colorado 

 were acquired in the years 1885 to 1891, more than two-thirds of the 

 rights dating in these years. These are all prior to any considerable 

 volume of rights in Wyoming. The greater part of the rights in 

 Wyoming were acquired since 1900 and subsequent to practically all 

 the rights in Colorado. As between the two States, therefore, Colo- 

 rado has the earlier rights to the river. 



Natural conditions are such that there is little likelihood of any 

 conflict between appropriators in the two States. Most of the land 

 irrigated in Colorado is in small areas immediately adjoining the 

 stream and sloping rapidly toward the stream, and a large part of 

 the Avater applied will soon return to the river. Practically the only 

 crop raised is native hay, which requires water only during the flood 

 season, when there is no shortage anywhere along the river. For 30 

 miles north of the State line the river runs through a succession of 

 canyons and between hills, which prevent its diversion for irrigation, 

 while in this distance a number of tributaries discharge into the river. 

 The valley then widens out somewhat, and in the course of the next 

 10 miles to the town of Saratoga considerable land is irrigated, and 

 further development will probably take place in this region. xVppli- 

 cations for large appropriations have recently been filed with the 

 State engineer. From the vicinity of Saratoga the North Platte 

 flows for 250 miles with almost no ditches diverting its water. In this 

 section there are a number of tributaries to the river. In the last 30 

 miles of the river's course in AVyoming the valley widens out, and 

 most of the appropriations from the North Platte in Wyoming are 

 in this section. 



Because of the long distance between this irrigated valley and Col- 

 orado it is not probable that use in Colorado will affect Wyoming irri- 

 gators. The appropriators in Colorado were undoubtedly decreed 

 rights very much in excess of what they have ever used, b- ^ natural 

 conditions' are such that they can not make such an increased use of 

 the water as to deprive appropriators in Wyoming. 



Laramie Rioer.So far as Colorado and Wyoming are concerned, 

 the Laramie River is independent of the North Platte. As shown on 

 page 02, rights to the Laramie Piver in the two States were deter- 

 mined on the same basis. With one exception appropriators in both 

 States are given the right to sufficient water for certain areas of land. 

 The following table shows the rights to this stream in the two 

 States. For Colorado the areas are given and the maximum quanti- 

 ties which may be diverted by the ditches serving these areas. As 

 pointed out before, these maximum quantities b.ear no relation to the 

 ureas irrigated. For Wyoming the areas are given and the maxi- 



