The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1916-11-03
People Skinned
Out of $239, 900
Governor Says
It Is All Right
Land Board Cancels the
Contract Despite Alexan-
der's Approval.

State of Idaho, Governors Office
Boise, Idaho, September 81, 1916
ION. E. T. Meredith. Des Moines, Ia
Dear Sir: understand that the
PARTISAN press of your State is at
acking your personal character IL
sgard to your connection with the
Vest End Twin Falls Irrigation com
any in the State of Idaho.
Since my connection with the State
and board as chairman, your com
any has done what has been required
# them, giving a new bond for the
aithful performance of its contract
n place of an old one which we be-
ieve to be obsolete and not valid In
aw. You have also spent money IN
ehabilitating the project so that the
,ona fide settlers cap live upon the
raet.
Previous to my membership on the
,oard, the attorney general, who was
{. member, informs me that you act
ID in good faith and put your own
money into the project to protect con-
ract holders, and it therefore gives
ne pleasure to write these few lines
o you in order that you may protect
ourself and satisfy your constituents
hat there is nothing in your connec-
ion with this project that reflects
pon your integrity, honesty and good
Intentions, Your very truly
M. ALEXANDER,
Governor.
The above letter was written by
Governor Alexander to E. 7. Meredith,
nominee for Governor OF
owa, and appeared in the Des MONIES
register and Leader, one OF the lead
ng papers of the State.
In this case the Governor says the
and board is well pleased with what
lr. Meredith's company has done
mich seems little strange since the /
ompany never did much of anything |.
ut blk prospective settlers out Oh
4S9 900. This is the company when
Did a large amount OF water rights
,yay back in 1908 before it had any
,ntract with the State, yes even be-
IRE the lands had been segregated
nder the Carey act law, giving a big
scount to such settlers as paid up
! full on their contracts. When this
ose method, to call it by no worse
anne, became known the State lana
,ard of Idaho ordered Mr.. Mere
this company to sell no more water !
ghts and it stands of record in the
inutes of the State land department
day. x /
Subsequent Investigations by Frank I,
ing. State engineer, brot a report
at at best there was not sufficient
ater to properly irrigate more than :
900 acres Of the $4,000 acres in the :
gregation, tho the company had SOLD .
ire than $4,000 acres. 1t also up
AIRED that the cost of putting the !.
fer on so small a tract as l5,OUO
res would make it prohibitiye. =
when it did get contract, :
: company did some work on ne
)iect and tried to sell bonds but was
able to sell a dollars worth ana
rk stopped some six months ago
i there the project stands There :
not a settler-nct single one-on
tract. -
t is the most complete failure OF :
? of our Carey act projects and all .
re Is to 1t or ever will be to II ),
the opinion of competent judges
that poor people are. and always T.
be holding the sack for. 9,00o
yet our honorable Governor is 6,
fectly satisfied. There is susp1e-
that he is satisfied for Iowa con- r,
lption, but would hardly make such
aim here in Idaho. If he would he
an explanation to make to the
pie. fir