314
HISTORY OF UINTAH COUNTY
was on 3 January 1881 when a petition was presented by Isaac Burton and P. Smith for half of all the water in Brush Creek to be set apart for their use and benefit. It was granted. Then Isaac Burton, Sr., and Isaac Burton, Ir., were given half interest in the remaining half of the water in Brush Creek and George Bankhead was granted the remaining water in the creek. In 1891 canal companies were instructed by the court to conserve water by constructing flumes and headgates across the natural water channels at the heads of the canals a n d ditches. The flumes a n d headgates were to be completed by the 1 April 1892 at the expense of the individuals or companies. 26 O n 11 July 1892 a group of people with water complaints came to the county court meeting. Judge Isaac Burton, Sr., and the selectmen adjourned the meeting long enough to go to Ashley Creek and make a division of water between the Central and Rock Point canal companies and the people living along Ashley Creek. In 1893 more complaints and threatened lawsuits were brought to the county court, and the selectmen again divided the waters of Ashley Creek into each of the canals to the best of their ability. The clerk notified the officers of the canal companies taking water from the natural channel of Ashley Creek to meet with the county court on 9 September 1893 at the courthouse. County Attorney W C . Britt stated that the object of the meeting was to divide the waters of Ashley Creek agreeably to save trouble and lawsuits in the future. The law was read regarding water certificates. At that meeting the Upper Irrigation C o m p a n y was given o n e - t h i r d of the water of Ashley Creek, less one-third of S.D. Colton's accrued water right. Rock Point Canal Company was issued a certificate for one-sixth of the water, with the exception of one-sixth of S.D. Colton's accrued water right. The settlers along North Ashley Creek were issued a certificate for one-twelfth of the water less one-twelfth of Colton's accrued water right, as were also Isaac Burton and B.O. Colton. Central Irrigation company was issued a certificate for one-third of the waters of Ashley Creek less one-third of S.D. Colton's right. All were instructed to put in weirs and headgates by 1 December 1893.27 Many water feuds still erupted, however, including physical fights on the ditch banks, because someone was caught stealing another's
