THE IRHIGA T10N A GE. 147 



right," which is a right to a certain specified quantity of water, or to 

 the amount necessary to irrigate a certain tract of land, the amount 

 given for this purpose varying with different companies. The quantity 

 of water really necessary to irrigate an acre varies widely in different 

 localities, and again materially with the crop under consideration. 

 While in Colorado and Idaho a flow of 1 cubic foot per second is 

 usually furnished and applied to 50 acres of alfalfa, the same volume 

 will supply the necessities of 500 acres of citrus fruits in southern 

 California. 



The irrigation corporation constructs, operates, and maintains the 

 main line of canal or other conduit by which the water is diverted 

 from the river and conveyed to or within easy access to the land to be 

 reclaimed; and in addition thereto, and particularly where these lands 

 belong to the corporation, it usually constructs a number of large 

 lateral branches, which are diverted from the main line at convenient 

 points and traverse the principal bodies of lands. These are designed 

 for the purpose of bringing the water within reasonable proximity to 

 such lands as are located at considerable distances from the main 

 works. The main canal or conduit necessarily occupies a position 

 outside and above all the area to be reclaimed. Without these branches 

 a decided hardship upon some of the water consumers would be in-, 

 volved in the necessary construction of private ditches of great length 

 for conveying their water from the main works, a condition which 

 would tend to place an embargo upon the sale of water. By means of 

 this arrangement is also avoided the necessity, which would other- 

 wise exist, for tapping the main line at a great number of points for 

 the diversion of water for individual consumers, as well as the objec- 

 tional feature involved in the great multiplicity of private lateral 

 ditches across the entire body of lands. 



The main canal and these principal branches are operated, main- 

 tained, and controlled, by the corporation, and are patrolled and regu- 

 lated by ditch riders in its employ. 



The settler or farmer who has purchased water rights from the 

 corporation is generally permitted to divert the water from any point 

 on the main canal or any of the laterals found to be most convenient, 

 subject, however, to the approval of the general manager or local 

 superintendent. In either case a head gate or regulating structure 

 is placed at the point selected, for the purpose of regulating the 

 amount diverted. This structure is the private property of the individ- 

 ual for whose use it is erected, though it is designed and placed in 

 position by the company, and is controlled and regulated by the ditch 

 rider, who keeps it locked at the required degree of opening and him- 

 self carries the key. The ditch conveying the water from this struc- 

 ture to the land to be irrigated is most frequently constructed, main- 



