Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-08-14
Salmon River Settlers Look With
Suspicion on Proposal for
Arbitrating Dispute

HOLSTER, Aug. 14.-The Salmon river
settlers are Tot very enthusiastic over
the land boards proposal to submit
their controversy with the Salmon
River Land and Water company to a
commission or board of arbitration.
The temper of the settlers seems to
have been so severely tried of late
that all talk of compromise and arbi-
tration is looked upon with suspicion.
The land board especially appears to
be in i'll favor with the settlers on the
tract, who insist that the land board is
Sinking its plain duty.
A few weeks ago the land board, over
the protest OF the settlers, consented
to the diversion of water from the
Salmon river reservoir to the private
project of an orchard company, which
because Of the unusually hot summer
was in need of additional water for
the preservation of its trees and other
crops. Various explanations were Of
fered of their action, but the settlers
insist that the only reason for the ac
ton was the political influence that
was brought to bear upon the land
board, one of the state officials being
heavily interested in the private
project.
On top OF this injury the canal COM
pany shut the water out of its bitches
early last week without any regard to
the requirements of the settlers, the
company insisting that the farmers
would be too busy harvesting to prop
erly handle the water. Judge Stocks
lager, the district judge, who hap
pened to be at HALEY, was hunted up
by c. o. Longley of Twin Falls, the at
torney for the settlers association, and
writ of mandate secured requiring
the company to deliver water to the
farmers at once. The writ was served
last Friday evening Saturday the
company complacently announced that
it would disregard the writ. Unfor
tunately the settlers have been unable
to get into communication with either
of the judges of their district, and
have consequently been compelled to
sustain the damage occasioned by the
company's refusal to comply with the
courts orders.
In many instances seed crops and
alsike have been entirely ruined. late
grain crops seriously injured, alfalfa
burned, and potatoes and vegetables
severely checked in their growth The
canal company insists that no one is
being injured despite the examples Of
injury throughout the tract, and the
testimony of nearly every farmer to
the effect that portions of his crop are
being ruined by his being unable to
provide water for it.
The farmers on the project are not
very we'll pleased with the seasons
deliveries, there having been friction
between the canal company and the
water users all summer, resulting in
numerous lnjuctions 90 compel che
company to furnish sufficient water to
mature the crops. In many instances
water users abandoned a portion of
their field in mid summer in order to
use the water on the remainder of
their crop and bring that to maturity.
The chief bone of contention be-
tween the settlers and the water COM
pany concerns the water supply, The
company has sold water rights to So
600 acres of land. ana have been unable
to irrlgate the %, 900 acres in cultiva-
ton in 1918 and the 10000 acres in
cultivation this year, with the run-off
of the river during the corresponding
years. Although the run-off of the
Salmon river was admittedly greatly
over estimated at the time the project
was promoted. the company insists
that the farmers are using too much
water and the settlers insist that their
crops bear evidence to the fact that
they have not been getting enough.
The settlers have repeatedly at
tempted to get the state land board to
l v,rOfapfiof, httt
the board has persistently refused to
interfere IN the matter. The settlers
negotiated for some time with the
bondholders. who recently came into
possession of the project, but failed to
arrive at any satisfactory conclusion.
Finally the settlers instituted receiver
ship proceedings, which case Is now
pending in the federal court, and is
said will come to trial early in the
/ fall.
In replying to the request of the land
board that the settlers arbitrate their
differences with the water company
Harold NJ Sims. the secretary OF. the
settlers association, criticises the
present administration in no uncertain
terms, and calls upon the board for an
explanation Of what he terms their
remarkable attitude" The letter also
reflects the seriousness of the situation
which the settlers confront 1t follows:
HOLSTER. Idaho, Aug. ~, 1914.
N. Jenness,
Register. State Board of Land Com
missioners, Boise, Idaho.
Honorable Sir: Your letter of July
81, addressed to A. NJ. Bowen of Twir
Falls in which you transmit copy OF
the resolution adopted by the state
board of land commissioners, suggest
ing the adjustment by arbitration Of
differences existing between the entry
men on the Salmon river project anc
the promoters, or their successors, has
been referred to the board OF director:
OF the Salmon River Settlers associa'
ton, and am writing you at their d.
rection, expressing the attitude thai
the directors will assume toward the
proposition suggested