Dodge City times., 1882-10-26
IRRIGATION IN COLORADO.

IRRIGATION IN COLOhAOO.
Many improvements have been made
since the commissioners report on lrriga.
CATION in Colombo, ten year. ago, bu: the
following will be interesting:
prTcHEs In COLORADO.
According to the most authentic informa-
tion, without an exact and complete exam
ination. it 10 estimated that there are about
four hundred miles o: main iuigating
bitches in Colorado. General Lessig, sur
veyor general Of Colombo, estimsies the
land susceptible Of cultivation in the Terri
tory at 10000, 600 acre., and Gays. "The
amount is only limited by the facilities Of
irrigation There are many hydraulic
mining bitches which do no; properly
come in the province o! irrigation, and are
therefore omitted in thi calculation.
THE PLATTE WATER CANAL.
This canal or ditch was commenced in
1859, and is twen,y-iour miles long. Its
Cos, was said TO be. at the time ii was built,
slOO, ,OOs; but this is exaggerated, as it can
be duplicated in 1871 at S25, 900. IL is e.
,,ma,ed thst SO, 600 acres are covered by
this ditch, though probably not more than
= Is, 600 are under cultivation. IL commen-
ces near the mouth Of Platte Canon, on the
line of Douglas and Jefferson counties, and
extends noriherly scro-s Arspshoe county,
to point about two miles east OF Den
yer. Its original width at the head waf
about ten feet, and depth Two feet, grsdu.
aliy decreasing in size NJ Il nears the city.
The fall is various; in some places six feet,
and in others ss low ~ IS inches. This
ditch was constructed in rery unscientiht
manner, from lack Of facilities, and, in
consequence a large amount OF water IL Lost.
The company are enlarging the volume ol
of the ditch TO meet the requirements OF the
CITY Of Denver for irrigation purposes, and
the width a, the head is now 80 feet with a
depth OF 3 feet.
fThe compiler deems the grea, capacity
O. the new works unnecessary, as we'll a:
calculated TO give the impression that the
entire volume of water IN the river will bs
monopolized, ard tending TO discourage the
work of irrigation in the new West.
TABLE MOUNTAIN DITCH COMPANY.
This ditch is taken out OF Clear Creek oil
The south eide, about one and a half mile
from Golden City. Originally it vas 6 fee
wide at the bottom, feet deep and from i;
to Is feet wide at the surfaoe. Head-gat'
10 feet wide, with partitions between waste
gates 10 feet wide. The iall is about i!
feet 10 the mile in the first two miles, which
is very much too great fall in any ditci
whatever; and in consequence, it is grsdu
aIly washing and degrading its banks every
wear. II is nearly 90 miles in length. Th'
south branch is about two and halt mile
long. and is taken out eight and half mile
from the head. The charge is $l.50 PEI
inch per snnum, with pressure Of about
inches, making the cost oi irrigation abou
81 per acre. 1t was built in 1864 and 1865
and cosr about $4,000; but everything
then wss very much higher in price thar
now; probably it could be built for SS, ,00(
nov.
THE FARMERS DITCH.
This ditch lesds cut of Clear Creek, ant
ia intended to irrigate $4,000 or 40,00t
acres. II. head is one and q half mile
above Golden City; in size it is 6 feet wid'
=, the bottom, s to IL feet on the surface
and Is inches deep In length it is clever
miles. and runs down on the ridge ant