Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-12-09

are in excess OF actual duty. Fifty
per cent OF the water taken from the
streams of this state and diverted as
private and corporate rights never
perform duty.
The great drainage problems, such
as that in the Nampa-Meridian dis
trict which is now requiring an ex-
penditure of three-quarters of mil
lion dollars, are the result to large
extent OF excess application of water.
The direct result of the inability of
the soil to utilize the water applied |
and make il do irrigation duty.
Had the irrigationists of Boise val |
ley used water as it should have been
used that district would not be under
the necessity OF covering itself with
a blanket mortgage TO get funds to
dig bitches to get rid of the water
it persists in applying and which 1t
cannot possibly use-benefciallyl
knowledge of the duty Of water
and then an administrative authority
that will compel use and not waste Is
what Idaho needs more than any
thing else at just this time.
Ii is as reprehensible, as unfair, as
criminal. for an irrigationist to per-
nit water to waste through the sub
formation of his field as it is 10 per-
nit it to run unused through the
bitches on its surface.
When he does that he steals, liter
p ally steals, from other acres that
D have an equal right in natural equity
- and constitutional guarantee with his
own, the water they must have TO be
reclaimed. When he does that he
B stands between the state and its pro-
I per development No individual has
a right, morally or otherwise, to do
# this. Nor has he right to assume
e that God Almighty created water for
# his ranch and his alone,
5 Yet that is precisely what the area
d reduction instead of duty increase
j. recommendation of the irrigation Law
revision COullulSSlOh pitNiSoNSS'
N A recommendation that fixes in thu
lie minds of irrigationists the belief tina
A. they are possessed of more than
ct right to beneficial use of water, ina
n they are entitled to an inch, five
H. eights, a half-or any other specifi
ry volume of water per acre, save tn
duty as that duty is determined by
Sc competent authority and not by tn
or individual opinion. is vicious in II
a. trouble breeding proclivities.
a The thing the water users OF ldah
H. will have to learn is that water is NJ
e. nor can 1t ever become private pro-
er erty per Sc. They must be made
understand that the waters of II
as state of Idaho are the property
to the state and that their use is consi
ca tutionally declared (section /, artic
nt. 15) and justly, too, 10 be
Iu- public use and subject to the regul
int tion and control of the state in 4
re- manner prescribed by law" TIL
Sc must realize that First in time. FIJI
in right" applies only to turn of
lat plication and not to duty, that (s'
,er tion s. article Is, of the constitutio
ple "+ Wherever the supply of su
ess water shall not be sufficient to nj
the the demands of all those desiring
use the same, priority of right sh
des be subject to such reasonable limi
sed tions as to quantity of water used a
cry times of use as the legislature. h
is ing due regard both to such prior
of right and the necessities of tn
and subsequent in time of settlement
Improvement may by law prescrib
.un, No man in Idaho can hoard wa
,ole can possess himself of 1t and ms
,on- tain that possession except for act
res beneficial use, and the state reser
fed the right to say how much, when
lete in what manner he shall use 1t.
, ir- We canont agree with all tina
At is said by Mr.. Bowman In the ali
suggestions. We have always
the tended and are still of the same o
,day ion that the amount of water req