THE WESTERN FARMER 's WATER RIGHT. 3 
rights are recognized also, and most of the irrigating is done under 
appropriation rights. Consequently, the subject of riparian rights 
will not be discussed further. 
ACQUIREMENT OF RIGHTS. 
In each of the arid or semiarid States, except Kansas and Montana, 
the acquirement of rights to water direct from surface sources is 
under the control of State officials, and one wishing to get such a 
right must follow the procedure prescribed by law. The procedure 
is much the same in all the States and consists in (1) making appli- 
cation to some State official or board on forms supplied by the State, 
-giving full information as to plans for irrigation works and use of 
water; (2) carrying out of the plans as approved by the State; (3) 
submitting proof of completion of works and use of water; and (4) 
granting of certificate or license by the State, defining the right as 
to quantity of water, use to be made of water, and time during which 
it may be used. 
The official or board to which application should be made in each 
of the States is shown herewith : 
Arizona — State water commissioner, Phoenix. 
California — State water commission, San Francisco. 
Colorado — State engineer, Denver. 
Idaho — State commissioner of reclamation, Boise. 
Nebraska — State engineer, Lincoln. 
Nevada — State engineer, Carson City. 
New Mexico — State engineer, Santa Fe. 
North Dakota — State engineer, Bismarck. 
Oklahoma — State engineer, Oklahoma City. 
Oregon — State engineer, Salem. 
South Dakota — State engineer, Pierre. 
Texas — State board of water engineers, Austin. 
Utah — State engineer, Salt Lake City. 
Washington — State hydraulic engineer, Olympia. 
Wyoming — State engineer, Cheyenne. 
In Kansas and Montana it is required that one wishing to acquire 
a water right shall post at the point of diversion, and record with 
the county clerk, a notice showing the intention to take water, the 
amount to be taken, and the use to be made of it. The proposed 
work must begin within a reasonable time and must be prosecuted 
diligently to completion, and the water must be put to a " beneficial 
use." In Montana, if a court has defined previously existing rights 
to water from a source from which one proposes to take water, appli- 
cation for a right to divert the water must be presented to the court 
which defined the existing rights. In each of the two States the law 
