would give its owner the right to use the water for one half 
day, or twelve hours; the owner of two shares would be en¬ 
titled to its use for twenty-four hours, and the owner of three 
shares to thirty-six hours. Where there are a large number 
of rights or of users the same method would be carried out 
but to a greater extent. As carried out in the countries 
where it is applied, the division may be carried out until the 
exact number of minutes to which each is entitled to the 
water is determined. In such case a time table needs to be 
prepared in advance, usually at the beginning of the season. 
Each one is furnished with a copy of it, as well as the ditch 
superintendent and employees, and the water is shut off or 
turned on the different gates according to schedule. The 
user must be ready to ta,ke it at the proper time or lose the 
water until his turn at the next rotation. 
This method is best applicable evidently in the cases 
where the amount of water flowing into the lateralis constant. 
This, under the present conditions of American practice, is 
rarely the case. The water in the main ditch, and conse¬ 
quently in the smaller laterals, is subject to the fluctuations of 
the main stream. Where water is distributed from reservoirs, 
then the flow may be maintained uniform. The necessity for 
restriction in the use of water to certain assigned times is 
also distasteful to many. But by common consent, methods 
are used which are leading to the same system, and with the 
gradually increasing pressure for the greatest benefit from 
the amount of water available, there is little doubt that this 
method will gradually extend in use under the conditions 
where it is best adapted. With the varying streams and 
varying flow, with the previously prepared time table, the 
method is not so equitable as the division of water as it comes. 
But with the advance of canal administration and with in¬ 
crease in knowledge of the flow of water, it will be possible 
to adopt a modified time-system of distribution which will be 
adapted to the varying streams. It is already in ditch admin¬ 
istration in Colorado becoming customary to keep records of 
the amount of water which is taken into the canals. It will 
become increasingly desirable, and even necessary. For the 
large ditches taking water from the streams, the amount of 
water which is taken into the ditch for different depths of 
water in the ditch, is officially determined by the State Engi¬ 
neer or his deputies. A similar rating of the lateral ditches 
may be made, or weirs may be used with greater accu¬ 
racy. As it becomes possible to find men who can use the 
various methods of measurement to determine the amount of 
water flowing, it will be possible to use a modified time distri- 
