56 
SEEPAGE OR RETURN WATERS FROM IRRIGATION. 
§ 53. The fact that, as a whole, the gain is small is a striking 
one, and even more so that there is in so many places an actual 
loss. 
It, then, seems true that the amount of inflow brought down by 
these sands is much less than has been believed. 
It seems difficult to account for as great losses at such points 
as is shown by some of the measurements, although the loss can be 
but little. 
§ 54. We have not been able to secure enough detailed in¬ 
formation of the location of the irrigated lands along the Platte, to 
be able to make a comparison in detail of the inflow and the irri¬ 
gated area. The areas irrigated stretch along the Platte, usually 
near the river. The area watered near Fort Morgan is, perhaps, the 
most extensive, and farther from the river than the others. The 
number of acres which are tributary to each portion is not known 
closely enough to state in acres. But, making a general compari¬ 
son, we have the following table. The most that can be said from 
it is, that the amount of increase bears a relation, in a general 
way, to the extent irrigated. 
§ 54. Comparing the distribution of the inflow on the South 
Platte river with the irrigated lands, taking the average inflow as 
given in Table V., the average inflow to the State line is 2 feet per 
mile. 
TABLE XI. 
No. of 
Miles. 
Average 
Increase. 
REMARKS. 
From month of Poudre to 
Hardin ditch. 
8 
62.0 
Receives seepage from about 10,000 or 12,000 acres 
waterea from Poudre, also from Upper Platte. 
From Hardin ditch to Put¬ 
nam ditch. 
11 
17.2 
Little irrigation — Hardin, Illinois and Corona 
ditches. 
From Putnam ditch to Fort 
Morgan canal. 
14 
57.8 
Putnum ditch ; large part of Weldon Valley canal. 
From Fort Morgan canal to 
Platte & Beaver canal. 
11 
46.6 
Most of Fort Morgan canal, remainder of Weldon 
Valley, Deuel & Snyder, and Pyott. 
From Platte & Beaver canal to 
Snyder . 
14 
49.9 
Part of Fort Morgan canal, Platte & Beaver canal, 
most of Platte & Beaver supply. 
From Snyder to Merino. 
18 
55.4 
Some of P. & B. supply ditch, P. & B., and Fort 
From Merino to Sterling. 
14 
33.7 
Morgan canal; most of South Platte ditch, all of 
Edwards and Johnson, Snyder, and Tetsel ditches. 
Large part of Pawnee, Springdale ditches, and other 
From Sterling to Iliff. 
9 
17.7 
Sterling ditches. 
Remainder of the Sterling group. 
From Iliff to Crook. 
17 
20.3 
The Iliff ditch. 
From Crook to State line. 
36 
21.3 
Almost no irrigation. 
Total gain. 
149 
298.7 
