The Distribution of Water. 
19 
SUPERINTENDENTS OF IRRIGATION. 
POWERS AND DUTIES UNDER THE STATUTES. 
As we have already seen, the division of the irrigated area 
of the state into water districts, each managed by a water com¬ 
missioner, had its inception in the legislation of the year 1879. 
The creation of larger divisions, known as water divisions, was 
made in the year 1881 under an act to provide for the appoint¬ 
ment of a state engineer, etc. Four water divisions were created 
in 1881, and two more in 1889. One was created by proclama¬ 
tion of the Governor in 1901. There are therefore now seven 
water divisions. 
The office of superintendent of irrigation having general 
supervision over each division was not established until the act 
of April 4, 1887. The first section of that act (Sec. 2447, M. 
A. S.) provides for the appointment of superintendents of irri¬ 
gation for each water division, with proviso that the Governor 
shall not appoint such official for any division until the Board of 
County Commissioners of some county included therein shall 
have adopted a resolution requesting such appointment. 
The duties of superintendent are defined in the act. The 
second section (Sec. 2448, M. A. S.) was as follows: 
“Said superintendent of irrigation shall have general control over 
the water commissioners of the several districts within his division. He 
shall, under the general supervision of the state engineer, execute the 
laws of the state relative to the distribution of water in accordance with 
the rights of priority of appropriation, as established by judicial de¬ 
crees, and perform such other functions as may be assigned to him by 
the state engineer.” 
The third section (Sec. 2449, M. A. S.) provides that the 
superintendent of irrigation shall be governed by the statutes, 
and to better discharge his duties he is authorized to make other 
regulations to secure equal and fair distribution of water in his 
division in accordance with the rights of priority of appropria¬ 
tion, which regulations adopted by the superintendent shall be 
merely supplemental to and in aid of the general statutory pro¬ 
visions. 
The fourth section (Sec. 2450, M. A. S.) gives the right of 
appeal to the state engineer from any order or regulation from 
the superintendent of irrigation. 
The fifth section (2451, M. A. S.) requires the superin¬ 
tendent of irrigation to commence the discharge of his duties 
when the first water commissioner in his district is called out, 
and to continue to perform the same until the last commissioner 
therein ceases to be needed. It also provides for reports from 
water commissioners to the superintendent as heretofore noted. 
The seventh section (Sec. 2453, M. A. S.) requires each 
