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5 cubic feel per second each were transferred in similar manner to the 
Home Supply Ditch. Permission was also given to transfer one of 7 
cubic feet per second to the Loudon Ditch. This transfer, however, is 
uncertain, as the interests of the Loudon Ditch appear to demand a 
prohibition of transfers of all kinds, and it is probable that this com- 
pany will resist the other transfers permitted by the superintendent 
of irrigation. There now remains in the Hie; Thompson Ditch 5i 
cubic feet of water per second, irrigating some 500 acres, with a pos- 
sibility of the return of 62 cubic feet of water per second temporarily 
transferred to other canals. This ditch in its present condition can 
not cany to exceed 25 cubic feet per second. It in all probability had 
been in that condition for a considerable time prior to the transfers of 
water. From data at hand the ditch carried but 22 cubic feet per 
second in 1890 and covered but 640 acres of land. The value of land 
under this ditch in the early days was from $10 to $60 per acre; its 
value now, however, is about $20 per acre. The decrease is easily 
accounted for in the decline in the price of wild hay from $50 or $100 
to less than $10 per ton, together with the fact that much of the land 
has become water- logged. 
MARIANO DITCH. 
The ditch, designated as priority No. 3, was built in 1862 by a Mexi- 
can by the name of Mariano and his people, to irrigate lands on the 
south side of the river. The ditch was small, and Mariano, unable to 
cope with American energy in the acquirement and perfection of 
water rights and the holding of land, at length found himself confined 
to some 10 acres. The ditch was gradually abandoned and is now a 
record only. This was the first private ditch in the district. At the 
time of the decree its owners claimed for it a capacity- of 38.4 cubic 
feet per second; however, as they testified that it irrigated but 120 
acres, and although the referee stated that there was insufficient data 
for granting a decree, the court granted 3.12 cubic feet per second, or 
an inch (0.026 cubic foot per second) to the acre. 
THE BIG THOMPSON AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY'S DITCH. 
This ditch is located on the south side of the Big Thompson, about 
2 miles west of Loveland. It is less than 7 miles in length, covers 
about 1,300 acres on the river bottom, and was the first ditch in the 
district to incorporate. Its first decree of 34.02 cubic feet per second 
is dated April 1, 1863. The ditch was enlarged and extended in 1861, 
acquiring its second right of 37.01 cubic feet per second May 1, 1861. 
In 1S67 the head gate was moved farther up the river and the ditch built 
to cover land farther back from the river. Being much larger than the 
