The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1911-11-02

w. T. Stafford of Gooding, presiden
and attorney for the Associated Wate
Users Association, an organization o
all the weter users associations of tn,
Carey act projects in southern Idaho
is in the city to consult with the at
torney general and other members OF
the state land board relative to resist
ing suits brought by the Idaho Irri
cation Company to cancel contra acts fol
the sale of water under that project
because of the non-payment of charges
and payments for 1910, which payment
is resisted by the settlers because OF
alleged failure of the company to sup
ply water for that year.
The Associated Water Users associ-
alton was organized on Sept. 16 by
delegates chosen from all the water
users associations of southern Idaho
who met at Jerome for that purpose.
A temporary organization had been
effected at meeting held at Gooding
on Aug. II. The purpose of the or
ganization is to unite for general pro-
lection and advancement on the part
of the settlers in Carey act projects.
1t is as attorney and secretary of the
Gooding Water Users association that
Mr.. Stafford is here today. The Idaho
Irrigation company has brought suit
to foreclose on the contract of two or
three settlers under that project who
have refused to make payment of the
amount named in their contract with
the company for last year on the
ground that water was not furnished
in accordance with the terms of the
contract and gin accordance with the
laws Of this state, and who held that
therefore, they ought not to be re-
quired to make that payment for that
year. They do not contend that the ir-
rigation company should forfeit the
entire payment, but merely that its
payment should be waived for a year.
That is, that last years payment
should be made this year and this
years payment next year and so on
continuing.
There are some 300 holders of con-
tracts on this project who are directly
interested in these suits and for that
reason the Water Users association
stands back of the defendants in the |
cases and will fight the claim of the
company.to the utmost.
1t is claimed that water last year
was not turned on at all until the mid
die of May and that after that not
sufficient was furnished to make it
possible to produce crops. 1t is stated |
that later in the season it became nee
cessary to rotate the water This was
done in July and August, but instead
of giving twice the volume of water
for half the time, as was promised, the
it is charged, actually did
not furnish even the full volumn of
water at any one time, and then for
only one day in the week. Before ro-
tation was attempted, the settlers were
without water for as long as 10 days
at time, it is charged, and in the
after part of the summer, so unsatis-
factory did the company find the stu
alton that it sent out notices of it's own
accord advising settlers not to put in
all crops on account of the uncertainty
# the water supply even for this year.
Cor these reasons, the settlers believe
hat the company is not entitled to be-
rim collecting the amounts that were
0 be due after water had been
furnished
There is no complaint at the water
uppled for this year, but Mr.. Stafford
tates that in order to contest the COM
'any's right to foreclose on the con-
ract, thus making the entire amount :
ue and thus enabling it, if the entire
mount is not paid, to declare forfeited
he amount actually paid in, it will be-
ONE necessary to attach the entire
'rigation system, and he expresses the g
elief that it can be shown that the a