American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1913-07-24
HAY-STACKER
PROBLEM

Boise, Idaho, July II, 1913.-The
annual argument between the agri-
~culturists and the public utility com
panies which operate wires in the
State of Idaho again hobs up. Ever
since the invention of the mechani-
cal hay stacker its transportation
along and across the highways has
been the source of much controversy
between the ranchmen and the wire
owning corporations. The former
has always maintained his right to
move his harvesting apparatus as
he saw fit, frequently with dis
astrous results in the natter of
broken wires and interrupted SER
vice.
The W re owning corporations have
relied, in the past, upon the Idaho
laws, which permit them to recover
heavy damage, and have based their
objections to the rancher's arbitrary
action in hauling stackers through
the lines on the grounds that many
innocent users of wire service, pow
er, light and transmissions We're
caused serious Interruptions and in
convenience.
There seems to be a middle
ground in the controversy, however,
and this has been taken by The
Mountain States Telephone and Tele-
graph company, which. thru Division
General Manager DeNike at Salt
Lake City to made the following an
n-ouncement: mo charge will be
made to the ranchmen who desire
TO move hay stackers thru the lines
Of the telephone company, provided
ample notice is given to the tele-
phone company and transportation
furnished to a lineman who will
cut the necessary wires and repair
the same. This method insures the
least possible interruption to the
telephone service and should be very
acceptable TO the ranchman, mas
much as It insures both themselves
aud their neighbors the greatest
amount Of freedom from delayed
telephone service"
Mr.. DeNike qualified his state
ment as follows: We feel that
we are partners with the ranchmen
Of Idaho in many ways. 1t IS to
u interest quite as much as to
theirs, that crops be harvested
rapidly and inexpensively. The NOV
Ing OF hay stackers is essential to
such harvesting but We are also
partners with every telephone user
in the state. 1t is our duty TO
furnish continuous exchange and
long distance service and this can
be secured only by cooperation on
the part of the ranehmen.
Section 1885 Of the Idaho Re
vised Codes provides as follows:
Any person who wilfully or malici-
ously does any injury to any tele-
graph or telephone property men,
toned in the preceding section is
liable to the corporation for one
hundred times the mount of actual
damages sustained thereby, to be
recovered in any court of competent
jurisdiction 1t was without doubt
hat this law was framed giving all
the wire companies the right to re-
cover damages n hundred times as
great Is the actual expense involved,
but we feel that it will be unneces-
sary for us to rely upon this
statute. Since, however, our COM
pany has taken the liberal attitude
which l have outlined above. and
which IS. we think all that should
be asked of us. We certainly expect
to make examples by bringing suit
against those ranehmen who have
little regard for their neighbors'
telephone service and for property
rights. / anticipate very little diff
ficulty when our position is known.
/ hope the newspaper people will
give this the widest publicity as
the season is at its height when
these movements of hay stackers is
most essential"