IRBIGATION IN NORTHERN COLORADO. 31 



reached and, upon applying to the courts, were upheld in their con- 

 tention. At j)resent the company is on a mutual basis with 1,423 

 shares of a par value of $100 outstanding. 



The water rights sold by the company called for the delivery of a 

 continuous flow of 1.44 second-feet throughout the irrigation season 

 when it was available from the river. At first one right was con- 

 sidered suflEicient for 80 acres, but at present the average area served 

 by a right, or 4 shares, is 160 acres. In 1880 rights, or the equivalent 

 share, sold for $400; in 1882, $1,000; in 1887, $1,200; and in 1917, 

 $4,500. Their present high value is due to the fact that there is 

 still considerable land under the canal susceptible of irrigation, while 

 the water supply is limited. 



The expenses of the company are met by assessments levied on the 

 capital stock and tolls collected for carrying reservoir water. In 

 1916 and 1917 the assessments were, respectively, $5 and $12.50 per 

 share, the higher assessment being for the purpose of retiring 

 some of the outstanding obligations of the company. For carrying 

 water to fill Windsor Reservoir and others about $1,350 was received 

 each year. For carrying and distributing reservoir water about 

 $7,000 was received each year. Current expenses average about 

 $15,000 each year, or at the rate of approximately 35 cents per acre 

 irrigated. 



The canal heads just north of Fort Collins in section 34, township 

 8 north, range 69 west, and tails in Long Draw, a tributary of Crow 

 Creek. Excluding the 16-mile extension beyond Owl Creek, the 

 main canal is 40 miles long. The bottom width at the head is 30 

 feet and the slope of the sides is 1^ to 1. The grade is 3 feet per 

 mile for the first 3 miles, 2 feet per mile for the next 32 miles, and 

 1^ feet per mile at the end. Its capacity is 750 second- feet. There 

 are about 75 miles of main laterals operated by lateral companies 

 and several hundred miles of small laterals and sublaterals. 



In the tabulation shown on page 15 will be found a statement 

 of the water rights of the canal. In acquiring the right to enlarge 

 the old No. 10 ditch it was necessary for the company to give the 

 original owners a free, unlimited, perpeteual right to as much water 

 as they could use on the lands they had previously irrigated, as 

 long as the canal was drawing from the river. For this reason the 

 first two appropriations are available for general use only when not 

 required by the No. 10 rights. 



The distribution from the canal of water received on direct ap- 

 propriations presents no notable features. The company controls 

 only the main canal and its responsibility ends with the delivery of 

 the water to the laterals which are all owned and controlled by 

 separate companies or individuals. The canal is in three sections, 

 each of which is handled bv a ditch rider. Diversions from the 



