Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-06-07

put under cultivation lacked then $3.50
inches Of having sufficient water or a
total shortage for the entire project OF
$3.50 inches of water at the last Of May,
1918, six years after the project was
started.
Water Available In f75 Years.
In six years then the Blaine County
Irrigation company had actually secur-
ed surplus of 300 inches Of water
in an ordinary season, from the Little
Lost river; or, an average of SO inches
per year: 30 at that rate we figure
there will be water available for the
entire segregation of $4,000 acres in
just ITS years.
Rains Save the Crops.
It is said: THE Lord takes care
of infants, fools and the United States.''
So. in the latter part of May, 1t began
to rain, and 1t continued to rain
throughout the month of June and into
July. Most of the settlers had watered
their land late In the fall before, so
their crops got a good start; the rains
raised the river. providing more water
than usual; they wet the crops SO
that they required less irrigation; it
made some of the old settlers places
SO wet that they turned their head of
water over to the company for a while,
which, of course, increased their sup
ply of water and altogether some of
the settlers managed to raise good
crops, some an average crop. and some
a small crop. while there were still
others that did not receive any water,
and had NO tn, Fo,,r
so the prosperity, 1t seems, was not
sufficient to go around.
State Engineer Reports 1900 Acres
Successfully Irrigated.
| The company collected the usual
the state engineer reported that 1900
acres had been successfully irrigated.
But he neglected to state by rains, and
has, therefore. left the impression that
the Blaine County Irrigation company
has successfully irrigated 1900 acres of
| their 14,000acre project.
Company Demands Payments.
| AS a part of the settlers had raised
fairly good crops and there was a
prospect of some of them having few
dollars over and above their actual
necessities. the company now pro-
ceeded to demand all payments with
interest to date; said demand being
accompanied by threat of fore
closure If the payments were not forth
coming.
! This announcement had a paralyzing
effect. AS soon as the settlers recov-
cred sufficiently from the shock they
proceeded to organize and employed
Attorney Ira e. Barber of Boise to rep
resent them. 1t is too early yet to
determine results, but 1t has evidently
had the effect of postponing fore
closure proceedings, If any were ever
intended, as so far none have been
instituted.
| Parks Made Receiver.
Some months ago MIR. Barber invited
representatives of the company, the
bondholders and the settlers to a con-
ference in order to get together. If
possible, on some plan of action which
would be for the best interests of all
concerned.
The meeting was held at Salt Lake
The company was represented by one
of their attorneys (they have only six
we know of, Mr.. Stagmier; the bond :
holders by the Messrs. Story and the
settlers by Attorney Barber, j. NJ
Strope, E. B. King and Harry Balding
The situation was thoroughly gone
into, the details Of which it is not nee
essary to rec,te here. They of the
other side insisted that a receiver be
appointed Mr., Barber objected in be-
half of the settlers. but the bondhold-
ers seemed to think that was the prop
err solution of the matter and pro-
posed Mr.. Parks for receiver This was
strongly objected to by Mr.. Barber and
the settlers present. But why moi
Mr.. Parks, they asked isn't he your
representative in the legislature?
The conference closed without any
action being taken in regard to the
receivership. The next day, at Po-
catello, Mr.. Parks was appointed re-
ceiyer of the Blaine County Irrigation
company by Judge Dietrich upon re-
quest of the bondho1ders.
| We now come to the present time
Notices were sent out April l to mosi
of the settlers informing them of the
receivership and also of the fact that
the maintenance was due at any time
and that 1t must be paid in cash be-
fore water would be turned to any one
Now If the prosperity exists here
eiidt iloS uteI prOCldluleu Tie company
has doubtless gotten every dollar due
them or demanded by them before this:
and 1t would require no effort on the
part Of the settlers to pay It. But the
truth is fully one-third or possibly one
half the settlers were unable to pay
that amount without making a sacri-
flee. or else, borrowing the money.
After five years hard work and eco
nomical living on an irrigated farm
and then be unable to raise 80 cents ar
acre on their land! Does that look
like prosperity A man with so acres
of as rich land as there is in the state
of Idaho and unable to raise $40 cash
after working 1t for five yearsl Any
common wage Garner can produce $10(
in cash with less effort than the aver.
age settler on the Blaine county pro-
ject after three years under the Carey
act.
I The irrigation season of 1914 is nov
here. but the water Is not here. The