WATER APPROPRIATION FROM KINGS RIVER. 303 



feet wide, and the West Branch, about 16 feet wide — extend toward the south from 

 this point. Near the river the main canal crosses high-water sloughs fed bj- the over- 

 bank flow from Kings River. These natural channels have been closed bj' dams on the 

 lower or west side of the canal. Their water, together with other water escaping from 

 Kings River above the head of this canal, is received by the canal and carried to 

 Leinberger Slough. At the point where the canal leaves this slough a wastewaj' 50 

 feet long is maintained, through which surplus waters are discharged. This is a 

 very light structure, which is reported to have rendered good sen'ice. Its length 

 was recently reduced from 260 feet to 50 feet. Some j'ears ago it was proposed to 

 supplement it with a second wastegate 200 feet long, nearer the head of the canal. 

 The main canal regulator or headgate has been set close to the river bank. A second- 

 ar}- regulating gate is just below the Leinberger Slough wastegate. Each gate is 

 about 42 feet wide between side walls. The headgate is arranged similarl}- to that 

 described for the Last Chance Ditch. The main canal is about 40 feet wide. It was 

 built on a verj' light grade. The bottom of the canal, commencing at the same eleva- 

 tion as the river bottom, was reported level throughout the first 5 miles of its course. 

 The effective gradient (slope of water sui-face) when full is reported at 5 inches to 

 the mile, with a 2.5-foot depth at the forks of the canal. Work on this canal com- 

 menced in 1870. The entire delta region of the river was naturally well watered, 

 but the water was irregularly and unequally distributed; to become realh' beneficial 

 it had to be brought under control. This canal was the first enterprise of magnitude 

 with this end in view constructed in the delta region of the river. Twenty -seven 

 persons, all interested landowners, joined in an agreement under which the canal was 

 to be constructed, and which provided that each person was to bear a proportional 

 part of "all expenses above" his "farther boundar\'." It was at first made 18 feet 

 wide on the bottom near its head, and 10 feet wide at 5 miles below its head. It was 

 enlarged in 1873. The first headgate was constructed in 1872 and is reported to have 

 had a width of 18 feet. It was washed out the following winter and was at once 

 replaced by another, which was in use till 1876. After this second regulating gate 

 was swept away the canal was operated without an upper gate until 1877, when the 

 third regulator, 40 feet wide, was built, at a cost of about $3,000. The fourth gate, 

 built in 1881, is now in service. 



The canal was built and is owned by those to whom it supplies water. Its 

 owners, who had organized as a companj"^ formed a corporation in 1873 with a 

 capital stock fixed at f 30,000 in 100 shares. 



The water in the canal is supposed to be represented by those shares of stock 

 which have been issued, which is a little more than one-half of the full number of 

 shares of capital stock. It is sold by directors of the company, but onh' to the 

 extent of the shares which have been issued. Each of these represents a propor- 

 tional part of the flow of the canal until such part exceeds 144 miner's inches. Water 

 in excess of this amount is at the further disposal of the company. Stockholders are 

 preferred purchasers of water to the extent of the shares owned b}- each, and pro 

 vided the application for water is made preceding a fixed date. Each share of stock 

 is supposed to represent sufficient water for 320 acres. The annual cost of canal 

 management and repairs is from $3,000 to $4,000. The first cost of the canal was 

 about $30,000. For a number of years after organization all expenses were assessed 



