IRRIGATION IN 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. Eiders, 
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 
