Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-04-29
MEDBURY IN
A CAD WAY
Raise of SIS Ia Price Of Wafer OC-
caslOnS Serious Controversy
Project Delayed

Considerable interest has been
aroused in the meeting at Medbury
last Saturday night held for the pur-
pose of discussing the water question.
Speculation has been rife and all kinds
of stories set on foot. 1t was gen.
orally understood by many that the
contracts formerly signed by the set
tiers for the water at price guaran-
teed to be $50 or less per acre, was
to be revoked and new contracts de-
manded from the settler with the
price at $65 per acre for the same
water, instead of $50.
When the proposition of irrigating
the valley was first proposed COM
plete relinquishments were required
from all settlers desiring water to-
gether with a contract to be placed in
the hands of a committee, pending
further developments of the company
looking to the immediate segregation
of the lands under the Carey act. 1t
was expressly stipulated that the
contracts were ITO be held, and not
filed in the United States Land office
until the said above named committee
shall be satisfied of the financial
standing and ability of James Red
man, L. G. Bradley and their associ-
ates,, and of their financial ability and
inten lion to complete a certain irri-
cation system, ETC., etc. - Several of
the accomplishments were signed at
the meeting in the presence of B. F.
Griffith, a notary and member of
the committee named to take charge
of the accomplishments and contracts
and it was agreed that he should take
them to Mountain Home where he
could affix his seal and place them on
deposit in his safe. The next week
the greater part of the acreage was
signed up in his office and, in fact.
signatures were secured at various
times for two or three weeks after
the meeting. Mr.. Bradley as we'll as
others of the committee including Mr..
Simpkins. referred to the relinquish-
ments, and, in fact, some of the
lands were sold by Mr. Simpkins
which were held under the relinquish-
ments. At various times during the
visit of Mr.. Bradley, he requested
that the relinqushments should he
held in readiness for him, in order
that no time be lost in applying for
the segregation. as he was making
every possible haste to that end the
committee informed him that several
days notice would be required in turn
ing over the relinquishments in order
to call meeting of the settlers anc
have a vote of those most concerned
thus getting proper authority to turr
them over to the United States Land
Office according TO instructions con-
tanned in the contracts.
During this time the committee
had made careful investigation of tht
system so far as possible and the Fl.
nancial standing of the company
which report would be in readiness
for the settlers when the relinquish.
ments should be called for. Mr.
Bradley was asked the best methoc
to set about securing such information
, and considered the matter in the ligh
{ sake don't look me up because any.
thing you would find regarding my
financial standing would have no gooo
!, effect on the standing of the com
pany.' or words to that effect. II,
, stated that Mineral Lease Thompson
was banker and represented the fin
ancial end of the string" and wa,
perfectly responsible and had tn,
means to go ahead with the prelimin
a-y work. On investigation it wal
> found that Thompson was not in an,
way connected with the banks at Lew
, iston, either as director, stockholdei
, or officer. Little OF no satisfactory
information could be secured con
cerning the financial end of th'
string aside from the fact tina
Thompson is the man Of the notorious
Mineral Lease fame.
: The cost of construction of the syt
: tenn was considered and it was gainet
8 from Bradley's preliminary surve,
tb~S epc Soob VI Lnc syotS" WOuiu Iui
from $50 to SIS per acre, and for thil
they intended to charge the settler
$50. On being questioned regarding
q this exorbitant price ard the fact tha
D the state land board would not ALLOW
I it. Bradley very wisely said. "wha
. do you suppose we made the stat,
j land board for7' 1t was argued tina
ths price was sxsrbitalt SD "a,