Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-01-18
OVERFLOW CASE
DRAGS ALONG
AND CoNGREssAfEN
PROMISE SUPPORT TO THE
SETTLERS.
Dykes Fail 10 Keep water out u
Testimony Of Witnesses.

In the Washington Water Power
case Stephen Dlcomman. whose farm
is situated on the ST, Joe river mid
way between st. Mares and the town
OK 81. Joe. testified that about TOO
acres OF land we're oyegiowed Al
present by the haekwater due 10 the
dam Ut Post Falls lIia farm Il sit
uated az the mouth Of stert creek.
Approximately ave Of six acres now
covered with water about foo.
deep. IN October. 1909. about so
acres were covered with water about
seven feet deep along sterlt creek.
was present at settlers meetings AZ
st, Maries when action was taken IL
petition the United States govern
Ment to remove the water from their
lands. Saw both Mr. Bailinger and
Mr.. Elston at these meetings.
Thomas D, Hay, a timber locator.
cruiser and farmer, owning 40 acres
OF overlooked land aang the 81.
Maries river. testified that the Post
Falls dam caused the water 10 stand
over tails lard during All ~ 1908.
In comparing the relative heights Of
water on Mr.. Hays land IN July and
August. 1907. 1908 and 1908. he
testified that each aneceaAiys year
the water increased ia height. over
flowing and destroying additional
hay land. the difference r. height OF
water between August, 1905, and
1907 being about seven feet and
from two TO four Zee. higher In Am-
gust. 1909, than August. 1907.
James Patterson was called by tbs
government. Lived for seven years
about seven miles above 81. Maries
am acquainted with PACKETS place,
. about one mile above 81. MaFies;
. there are approximately 1900 acres
OF damaged land between the res
leryation line and the Pashet place
There were about 5000 tons of hay
!, cut In 1906. In 1905 500 cattle
we're kept In the valley; Ia 1907
about 1000 tons OF hay was cut on
!, these lands, and 800 cattle grazed
|, thereon In 1903 there we're APP.
A lproximately 100 tons Of hay cut aud
: 100 cattle kept. Witness testified
: the cause OF the decrease OF cattle
. raised was due TO lack of hay and
!, the decrease IN hay production was
!. due to the wet. soft condition Of hay
: land al haying time and that the
condition of hay land was due 20
1. the Post Falls dam. The high water
!, Is responsible also for the washing
!, away OF the banks along the river
!. By action Of waves raised by passing
steamboats, In 1905 witness testi-
:. fed that Rochet cut SO tons OF hay.
Miller. so tons, Parette. 20 tons:
!. nlcommun. 20 tons Jacot Is tons;
- Ferguson. 40 tons: polton. SO tons.
II ST. Maries Land company, 100 tons
"a Patterson, 10 tons: Newcombe, go
!. lions; stoffer, 30 tons; Jacket. Is
tons on lower place and 30 tons OIL
Ia upper place.
, At adjournment last evening Pat
=. terson. who had been put through !
!. Rrilling croAs-ezaminatlon for a.
"A hour, became 20 tangled in his ties
am timony by Gray,s questions that h
:, admitted the principal features OF
direct examination as to acreage wa
:. untrue and seemed relieved when Al
a. adjournment Was taken.
a r. Dunson. a farmer living on
- Io-acre tract OF ST. Joe river bot
!, tom land Al st. Maries. occupied tn
a. entire forenoon session. He testinei
=. that the water rose gradually durin
"a the years 1SO7-s-s until In 1899
&. stood the entire summer on land tina
M had heretofore been cut for timothy
=. His testimony also included the nj
- leessity Of dyking. ditshlng and pump
:, ing Of a soO-aere tract owned by h
re- st. Maries Land company. on . pai