Gilpin observer., 1912-02-22
JUDGE PETER L. PALMER
FILES HIS DECREE.
Legal Rights Of 1870 Water Users Of
North and South Clear Creek Have
at Last Been settIed-Task Was
Tremendous One.

Tremendous One.
The decree regarding the priorities
OF water rights in this locality, filed
by Judge Peter L. Palmer in the
district court in Denver last week,
brings to final conclusion for all
time the legal rights of some 12O
concerns using the waters of both
north and south Clear Creeks and
their tributaries.
The decree affects all the bitches
in district No. Z and all priorities in
Clear Creek on water to be used
for beneficial purposes other than
irrigation. This is the first time such
rights have been adjud.cated.
In the latter part of 1906 the dis
trict court appointed Judge Palmer
as referee to adjudicate the differ
ences Of mining, milling and power
companies in the Clear creek dis
trict, over which there was consider.
able controversy. The task has been
a tremendous one, but will settle for
,
Germs using Clear creek water.
The decree will be heard by the
court February rs, at which time all
claimants will be given an opportun-
ity to protest, If they desire. The
findings give the cities of Idaho
Springs. Georgetown, Central City,
Empire and Golden the right to use
as much water as is required for mu-
nicipal purposes.
This should settle the litigation
that Central City has been put to in
the past at great expense in main
tanning an adequate water supply for
the city needs.
II is interesting to note that the
oldest canal is the Black Hawk ditch.
which has water rights dating be-
fore the year 1859 and which is
owned by the Fifty Gold Mines cor
poration. This is given the first prior
ity. while the other four of the five
holding 1859 water rights, are the
Sensenderfer ditch, owned by the
California Mining and Milling COM
pany, the Mead and Polar Star mill
and the Mead and Polar Star exten-
sion ditch, owned by the Gunnell
Mines and Milling company. and the
Virginia Kimber Flume and Ditch
company.
Now that these important water
rights have been adjudicated, it IS
hoped that a new start will be made
in installing improved methods for
the milling OF the ores of the coun-
ty. This accomplished, "Old Gilpin"
will start on new era Of local
prosperity that will eclipse all past
records in the production of gold
from its milling ores which in ton
mage and values far excel any one
mining district in the world.
The Renshaw pipe line, owned by
the Seaton Mountain Electric Light,
Heat and Power company, which sup
plies the power to Idaho Springs, Sc
cures the largest appropriation of
water Of any of the claimants. The
company is given 31S cubic feet per
second. Among the other appropria-
tions are:
Hyland ditch, owned by the Stan
ley Mines company, Idaho Springs,
100 cubic feet.
Clear Creek ditch and pipe line Sill
yer Mountain Mine and Milling com.
pany. 263 cubic feet
Anson p. Stevens ditch No. 2, $50
cubic feet.
Empire Tunnel pipe line No. EN-
pire Tunnel and Gold Mining, Mill
ing and Transportation company, 220
cubic feet.
Catren pipe line, B. c. Catren es-
tate, so cubic feet.
Red Ditch and Flume, Combination
Leasing and Milling company, 5s Gu
bic feet.
Pipe line OF the Continental Mines.
Power and Reduction company, 200
cubic feet.
Dover-Brighton pipe line, Pittsburg
Consolidated Mining, Milling and
Transportation company, SO cubic
feet.
Two American Sisters pipe line,
The Two American Sisters Mining,
Milling, Power and Electric company,
so cubic feet.
In addition to the claimants there
are q score of reservoirs who are en-
titIad m tho wator TINT 10 loft Among