70 



having been initiated in 1901 and since, subsequent to all of those in 

 Nebraska. 



In addition to the rights enumerated in the table for Nebraska, 

 there are rights to water attaching to riparian lands. ( See p. 85. ) The 

 earliest settlements along the North Platte in Nebraska, except in the 

 immediate vicinity of the city of North Platte and a few isolated 

 ranches, were made in 1883 and the years follow^ing. Prior to that 

 year rights to 865.92 cubic feet per second had been acquired in Colo- 

 rado and Wyoming. The railroad land grant extends up the South 

 Platte, and the North Platte enters the limits of the grant in the 

 neighborhood of Lewellen (see map, PI. I), consequently there are 

 no railroad lands w^est of that point. In the vicinity of Lewellen 

 railroad lands were selected in 1902, and therefore have no riparian 

 rights, mider the decision that the law of 1889 abrogated the rule of 

 riparian rights. Through Deuel County for a distance of about 40 

 miles the railroad lands were selected in 1886. These lands include 

 alternate sections and probably comprise about one-half of the ripa- 

 rian lands. Prior to 1886 rights in the upper States amounting to 

 3,098.81 cubic feet per second had been acquired. For the next 20 

 miles east of Deuel County railroad lands were selected in 1890, and 

 consequently have no riparian rights. For about 10 miles above the 

 junction of the North and South Platte rivers the railroad lands were 

 selected in 1874, and along the main stream east of the junction they 

 were selected in the same year. Prior to 1874 rights to only 65.39 

 cubic feet per second had been acquired in Colorado and Wyoming. 

 Throughout much of the distance between the State line and the city 

 of Kearney on the main stream, below which are no irrigation ditches, 

 much of the riparian land is swampy and therefore Avill make no 

 demand on the stream. As with the South Platte, no estimate of the 

 amount of water which can be claimed by riparian owners can be 

 made, but in view of the fact that only a small part of the railroad 

 lands were selected before 1886, and that a large part of them were 

 selected after the passage of the law of 1889 abrogating riparian 

 rights, and that settlement along the river began as late as 1883, 

 prior to Avhich many rights had accrued in Colorado and Wyoming, 

 riparian rights on the North Platte may be considered of little imjior- 

 tance from an interstate standpoint. 



As has been previously pointed out, the use of the water along the 

 North Platte in Colorado occurs chiefly in the flood season, when there 

 is plenty of water throughout the course of the stream and natural 

 conditions are such that this use can not be greatly enlarged. 

 Throughout the greater part of the course of the stream in Wyoming 

 there is practically no irrigation. The question of interstate rights 

 between Wyoming and Nebraska, therefore, coijies down to consider- 



