, 1890-12-05

PROPOSED IRRIGATION LAW.

PROPOSED IRRIGATION LAW.
There is naturally 4 great deal Of inter
est felt in the elaborate bill prepared by
Professor Mead in conjunction with the
irrigation committee Of the legislature,
There are few subjects OF greater Impor-
tsnce, owing to the immense amount OF
land that may be reclaimed. A thorough,
intelligent system Is absolutely essential
iron the beginning in order hat our re-
sources in the way Of water may be util-
lied TO the extreme limit
1t will. therefore. be OF general interest
to learn in a brief way what the new bill
provides. The state is divided into four
natural drainage divisions with a division
superintendent for each. these superin-
tendents forming a board of control, of
which the state engineer is ex-ofieio
president. The first division comprises
the North Platte and its tributaries and is
composed of Laramie. Albany. Carbon
and the south half of Natrona and Con
verse counties. The second division con
sists of the tributaries of the Missouri
river east of the Biz Horn mountains and
comprises the north half of Natrona and
Converse, the east half of johnson and
Sheridan and all Of Crook county. The
third district consists of the section
drained by the Big Horn and its tribu-
t%aries, comprising the west half of John
son and Sheridan and nearly all of Ere
mont. The fourth district is composed of
Green and Snake rivers and their tribu-
taries and consists of Uinta and Sweet
water counties.
The new bill does away with the pres
ent method of filing claims in the county
clerks Office and adiudlcating the claims
in the courts. The board of control is
substituted. This board not only takes
evidence in regard to the nature Of the
water claims and determines tn ,ir priority
but upon it rests the duty of alterward
dividing the water in accordance with
their determination. As it is explained
the object Of this arrangement is TO fix
the responsibility for the transaction from
beginning to end instead OF resting the
responsibility nowhere as is now the case.
Another decided Improvement is found in
the fact that under the proposed law
priority Of claims will be fixed as soon as
the irrigation works are completed and
the record of appropriations from every
stream kept up to date. Under the old
system about 5000 bitches have already
been taken out and the priority rights of
none of them have yet been definitely de
termined.
Under the new bill all the records for
water claims will be fled in the state
engineers %ofics, and the only record to be
filed in the county clerks office will be
the final certificate, which will be recorded
like an ordinary land patent.
The board of control will meet twice a
year-in February and in August for
the determination Of any matters which
may come before it. The board will have
the right to create new water districts
time to time as the water rights on
various streams are determined. 10
case of the creation OF new districts, com
missiouers for the same will be appointed
by the governor, as under the old law
The division superintendent of each dis
have direct control of the water
commissioners under the immediate
supervision Of the state engineer.
1t will be the duty of the state engineer
to make an examination of all streams
where an adjudication is to be had. and in
such adjudication his report will be taken
in conjunction with the testimony given
before the division superiuto ndent. There
are no fees in connection with the whole
matter, except a lee of seyenty-fve cents
to the county clerk for recording the Ger.
tifcate.
The salary of the state engineer Is fixed
at g., 500. He is allowed to employ an
assistant at 81. 200 and other help at not
over $500. The district superintendent
are allowed $40 a day and mileage fo7
time actually employed.