4 U.S. 211 - Beissell v. Sholl

CASE, for diverting a water course. The COURT left the facts to the jury, under this general statement of the law: 'That every man, in this country, has an unquestionable right, to erect a mill upon his own land; and to use the water, passing through his land, as he pleases: subject only to this limitation, that his mill must not be so constructed and employed, as to injure his neighbour's mill; and that, after using the water, he returns the stream to its ancient channel.'