IRRIGATION m NORTHERN COLORADO. 27 



of cleaning and other maintenance work in proportion to his interest 

 in the ditch, though he is required by law to do only his share from 

 the headgate to the point at which his lateral diverts. For the dis- 

 tribution of water in the ditch, division boxes or weirs are used very 

 generally and a continuous flow is delivered until the supply falls 

 short or the demand decreases. A short supply is usually rotated 

 among the partners, each receiving an even amount of water for a 

 time proportionate to his interest. Many laterals of canals are 

 handled in this manner. 



Many of the cooperative companies were originally organized as 

 such, the capital stock being placed at the cost of construction of the 

 canal and sold for cash or issued to the builders in proportion to the 

 work done by each. Others were controlled originally by corpora- 

 tions organized to build canals and to derive profits from the sale of 

 water rights, but, in accordance with terms commonly contained in 

 the water right contracts, cooperative companies were organized by 

 the owners of water rights to take over the systems after a certain 

 number of rights had been sold. In such cases shares were issued in 

 proportion to the water rights held. In general, a share of stock of a 

 cooperative company represents a proportionate part of the water 

 supply of the ditch at any time and this water may be used on any 

 land served by the system, subject, of course, to due notice of a desire 

 to change the point of delivery. Holdings of stock are not restricted 

 in any manner and vary with the water requirements or finances of 

 the individual. This, together with variations in supply and demand 

 due to wet and dry seasons and crop changes in rotation systems, has 

 given rise to the common practice of renting shares or water for a 

 season or less. 



The organization of the cooperative companies shows no unusual 

 features. The stockholders elect a board of directors who in turn 

 elect officers to conduct the business of the company. These include 

 always a president, secretary, treasurer, and superintendent. Riders, 

 headgate men, and gangs for repair and maintenance work are em- 

 ployed by either the superintendent, president, or the directors. 

 Engineers, hydrographers, and office help are employed only for 

 special work or for short periods. 



The ordinary expenses of the cooperative companies are met by 

 levying annual assessments on the capital stock. These assessments 

 vary from a few cents to a dollar or two an acre, but the average 

 is close to 25 cents. Several canals of the valley in their capacity 

 as common carriers of reservoir water make their charges for this 

 service high enough to defray most of their expenses. In the case 

 of the Greeley Canal No. 2 the income from carrying reservoir water 

 is sufficient to meet all ordinary expenses and assessments are levied 

 only on special occasions. However, the money comes out of the 



