410 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



Under tlu» now Imw. if tho water user can by eeononiy and care mature 

 his crops on the hind in connection with which the rif^ht was acquired, 

 with one-half the water allotted to him, he may transfer the water 

 saved to other land, in that way henefitinfjj himself and at the same 

 time benefitinfij the public, since the water supply, which is limited, 

 will have been made to serve double the area which would otherwise 

 have been served. Under the old law, on the other hand, there is no 

 incentive to economical use, since the use of water on the old land 

 must be abandoned, and the right transferred entire to an equal area 

 of new^ land. The procedure for securing a permit to transfer a right 

 was not changed. Although Wyoming has prohibited transfers of 

 rights it does not insist on an absolute enforcement of that restriction. 

 Along with its law of 1909 prohibiting transfers it enacted a law 

 allowing rotation in use, which is as follows: 



To bring about a more economical use of the available walor supply it shall be 

 lawful for water users owning lands to which are attaclied water rights to rotate in the 

 use of the supply to which they may be collectively entitled; or a single water user, 

 having lands to which water rights of a different priority attach, may in like manner 

 rotate in use, when such rotation can be made without injury to lands enjoying an 

 earlier priority. (Act Feb. 27, 1909.) 



IRRIGATION DISTRICTS. 



Colorado amended its irrigation district law in u number of tletails, 

 the only change of general interest being one relating to the quali- 

 fications of electors of a district. Under the law of 1905 (ch. 1.3) 

 nonresident property owners were entirely excluded from voting on 

 district affairs, while under the law of 1907 (ch. 194) the franchise is 

 extended to parties who 



are the owners of lands to the extent of 40 acres or more within said district and reside 

 within any county into which any part of said district shall extend, and who are 

 qualified electors under the general laws of the State therein, and who shall have 

 paid property taxes upon property located within said district during the year pre- 

 vious to any such election. 



Idaho revised its irrigation district law in 1907 (ch., 140), but no 

 important changes were made in the general plan of the law, except 

 that entrymen on public or state lands are made eligible to sign 

 petitions for the formation of districts and to vote on their 

 organization. 



Montana adopted a new irrigation district law in 1907 (ch., 70). 

 The distinctive features of this law, when compared with others, is 

 the fact that the nonresident property owner is given as much voice 

 in district affairs as the resident. In some States one of the principal 

 reasons for the creation of irrigation districts is to compel the non- 

 resident to improve his property, or at least contribute to the cost of 



