The Grit-advocate., 1903-07-03
FARMING MATTERS.
Work Of the Ditch Rider.

!
when the streams are in flood and be
fore the work of irrigation is in active
| operation, says Field and Farm, the
duties of the water commissioner are
| comparatively simple since at this time
| there is generally enough water for all
! claimants, who may take all they want
without interfering with the rights u,
others. Later in the season, when the
floods have subsided, the streams hay 9
| resumed their normal level, the
| weather las become hot. the soil
parched with thirst and the maximum
area of crops is suffering for the want
OF moisture. the work becomes compl-
Gated and his lot is frequently not =
happy one.
AS there is not sufficient water fur
| ALL it becomes necessary to consult the
list OF priorities and watching close y
the gauge upon the stream which in
forms him of the quantity of water
passing, he must shut off the supply
from those whose priorities do not en-
title them to its use at this stage OF
the water permitting 1t to be diverted
by those who have the earlier and
prior rights. 1t is at this period that
| his troubles and hard work begin. 1t
would be a comparatively simple MAJ
ter to distribute properly the water in
the order OF prior appropriations il it
corresponded with that of the position
OF the various claimants upon the
stream. This however, Is never the
case.
Priorities are numbered according to
the dates under which the works were
constructed and the appropriations
made effective. while the position Of the
works along the stream are governed
by other conditions entirely. Canal No.
/ may be located near the lower end
of the stream, while No. 100 may be di-
verted from point fifty miles up the
stream from the latter When, for ex
ample. the stage Of water requires tina;
the headgates through which priority
No 80 is diverted be shut down. he
may have to travel twenty miles to
reach them. II the river by this time
has fallen to an extent requiring that
No 70 be shut down. he may have to
return up stream ten or fifteen miles to
perform this duty, while No. 79, which
is next in order of deprivation, may
require him to return to the vicinity
OF No 80, or perhaps travel even far
ther than this to close its gates.
If the stream does not fuctuate, but
continues to 60 steadily down, this
closing OF gates likewise continues un
til only those remain open the priori-
ties OF which are the Oldest and best
and the aggregate amount OF which
rights does not exceed the quantity OF
water flowing in the river at Its lowest
stage. These. Of course, are never mo-
Tested and the farmers whose opera
tions are conducted under these canals
are fortunate. They are always pros
porous because they get plenty OF
water and therefore invariably have
good crops. II the river huctuates
rapidly, sometimes rising and again
falling, the water commissioner has an
even more dificult task. for, In addf-
tion to the work OF closing gates he has
with each rise to see that the Satee
Of those thus becoming again entitled
to water are raised. which Is matter
of quite as much importance as that
Of closing those Of the appropriators
who have not the right to its use.
In the time of scarcity he has In
the discharge OF his duties not only the
right to close the headgates Of those
not entitled to water at the time, but
the authority to lock them down.
When this authority is exercised he
usually posts written notice upon
the gates SO closed. which gives warn
ing that they are under the control ct
the water commissioner and must not.
under penalty OF the law, be opened or
interfered with except by his authority,
Such interference constitutes misde
meanor for which. upon conviction, the
offender may be punished by hne or
Imprisonment, or both.