The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-11-21
PLAN To PROTECT
SETTLERS ON LAND
State of Idaho Takes Up
Question of Those Who
Are on Big Lost River.
Special 10 The Tribune.

Special 10 The Tribune.
BOISE, Idaho. Nov. 20.-The settlers
on the Big Lost River irrigation project
and those who left there. but stili have
their contracts with the Big Lost River
Irrigation company. now defunct. ore TO
be given the flrst consideration and pre-
caution will be taken TO see that their
rights and their contracts are protected
by the state through the land board, when
negotiations are entered into 10 reclaim
the unfinished project and place II on !ts
feet This was the Information given out
today by Attorney General ]. II. Peter
son when interviewed as TO what steps
the state purposes 10 take. now that the
circuit court OF appeals has handed down
decision In the foreclosure and lien suit
brought by Corey Bros Construction COM
pany. In which this company won, secur-
Ing Judgment for approximately $780,
600
The state has been led TO believe that
upon tho handing down OF the circuit
courts opinion steps would Immediately
be taken In the event OF an affirming
plete the works on the Big Lost River
project 80 that water can be delivered TO
the land included within Its borders for
irrigation purposes. That the state land
board Is looking forward toward imme-
date activity along this line IS evident.
and not only expects II, but Is anxious
To see the negotiations opened without
further delay. The completion OF the
project in the earliest possible time Is,
IN brief, the slogan of the state and the
state land board. This is looked upon
now as the paramount issue.
THE state and board purposes 20 see
that the settlers who are now on the
project or who were forced 10 leave 1t are
taken care OF and protected In every
way said Attorney General Peterson to-
day. I'VE intend to gee that their con-
tracts with the old company arc also pro-
,ected. SO that there will be every pre-
caution taken TO safeguard their in
terests
II believe now that the completion OF
the project at the earliest possible mo-
ment is what we should work forward TO,
for that is the main Issue To my mind.
all others are secondary. The land Is
there and so is the water. II is a qucs-
tion OF delivering that water to the land
and when that Is done there will be no
better project In this state OF in any other
state than the Big Lost River.
II have been led to believe and other
members of the land board have been led
TO believe that upon the handing down
of an opinion by the circuit court of ap
peals action would Immediately be taken
with view of completing the project
and ] have every reason TO think that
this viii be done. Tho state land board
proposes 10 give this matter It's closest at
tenton and Will insist on definite action
within as short a time a S possible
While the attorney general did not eX-
press himself on this point. It is under
stood that In order 10 protect what they
now have tied up In the project the Corey
Bros. Construction people Will endeavor
10 make some arrangement whereby they
can take charge Of the project and rush
II 10 as early completion as possible In
order TO savo what II has involved and
TO protect the rights Of all parties con-
ccrned. In the event OF the sale OF the
property, II is believed the Corey Brothers
viii bid II In and then proceed with ar
rangements with the land board to pro-
vide for either tho completion OF the
Mackay dam or the selection OF a new
dam site and tho construction OF dam
there.
That the members OF the state land
board arc determined IN their stand from
the governor down to assume ali insist
ent attitude with relation 10 the compile
ton OF tho Big Lost River project Is evil
dent when the subject was called 70 their
attention today. That they expect and
believe the project will be completed and
that tho settlers who invested In It's lands
Will be protected in every possible way
by them was also evident. The boa rd
members Intend TO prevent any unneces-
sary delay in going ahead with the
recla ma ton work and the land board Is In
a position 10 be inslstent,