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Show Record I am speaking of low water seasons. The depths of the channel 455 of the river would be much greater than they are now if the water could be confined by ripwrapping to a narrow channel or a channel 456 of the width it was when I first saw the river, and I think the rip- rapping would hold the water. I have been taking part in a enterprize looking toward the confining of the channel and the protection of our farm lands, and I have met with some success. The original channel could be restored but it would be expensive, probably $ 100 a rod in places where you would change the current altogether. There would not 457 be a great number of such places. We were trying to make the river run straight. For two or three thousand dollars we could put the river in pretty good shape, but you would have to keep it up one year after another. It washes out. I spoke of boats coming down from Farmington past Bluff and on down to Mexican Hat to the placer locations. I know of one or two boats, two or three that came down that way. I happened to see those men because they stopped to get off at Bluff as they came down. I think I saw the first of those parties in 1890. 458 I could not say when I saw the second party. I don't know many people were in the first party. I think those two or three men in that one boat I have referred to just had their camp outfit, grub to last them two or three months. They may have had a little lumber along. I did not see any. I saw this one boat I have referred to. It was just a small boat, about 15 feet long and 4 or 5 feet wide. It carried the same kind of things I carried in my freighting wagon. They did not have a wagon and team. so they made 459 a boat and went down the river that way. I think it was either in the summer or late in the fall. I cannot remember the time of the year when any other parties went down but there were others who went down. Jens Nielsen testified on redirect examination as follows; I have been at Mexican Hat recently. There is a store - 64- |
