Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-05-10
SETTLERS Will
: MAKE FIGHT FOR
CHEAPER WATER
Strong Resolutions Adopted
at Meeting of Boise Prof.
ect Water Users Associa-
ton at Caldwell.


securing release through the interior
department of the national govern
ment, the directors of the Boise Pay
cite Water Users association at their
meeting in this city yesterday renewed
their efforts to induce the reclamation
1 service to keep faith with the settlers
Vof this irrigation project, and live up
to the original representation of the
governments agents, that the cost of
water should not exceed SIS to SIS per
acre. The action of the meeting of
yesterday was in the nature of the fol-
lowing resolution, which was adopted
without a dissenting vote, and is of
significance, in view of the fact thai it
probably marks the beginning of long
fight by the settlers:
Whereas, it is now apparent that the
cost OF water rights of the Boise project
will soon be announced, and
Whereas, laid cost is certain to be
greatly in excess of the cost estim ated
at the time of beginning of this pro-
ject, viz, $25 to 1913 per acre. and
whereas, such costs were used with
the knowledge and consent, and prop
erly directly by the reclamation Off
cials as an inducement to settlers to
buy homestead entries on these lands,
x&hereby making possibl the retain
Fment to the government of the con-
struction charges on said project, and,
Whereas, most of said settlers re-
lied on the promises and good faith of
the government that such charges only
would be required to be paid. and,
Whereas, any charge in excess Of
the said $25 to SIS per acre will be
great hardship on the said settlers,
- NNh{HI1
they had a right to expect and confisca-
tory of the lands of many of those
who have expended all their money and
energy for the last si:. or more years,
and,
whereas the said settlers are still
relying on the government to act in
good faith and all fairness with them,
as they have always done heretofore;
therefore,
BE it resolved that the Water Users
association of the Boise project now
requests the secretary of the interior
and the reclamation commission or any
other officials having authority to grant
the release asked for ii these resolu-
tions, and that they assure "a an carly
hdate that no charge in excess of his
said SIS to SIS per acre will be re-
CURED"
Settlers in Earnest.
With the probable cost of SIS per
acre staring them in the face, the set
tiers upon these new lands have begun
their fight for existence. They hold
that such a cost of water as that an
nounced would mean confiscation of all
they have, and that they should not
be compelled to assume the burden of
the excess costs of the project incur
red through the extravaganza, for
which they, in no measure, are respons-
ible.
The effort TO convert their associa-
ton into an irrigation district, alleged
to have been advised by government
officials, has met with signal failure,
consequent to the belief that the
hght for reduced water costs would
Wherefore be weakened. Out of 1000 set
tiers only 60 has signed the petitions
circulated for a change of organiza-
ton. and several of these say that they
did so through not understanding the
situation. Further action in this mat
ter was deferred until the next meet
ing, but the GOODNESS in which the
proposition for the change in organ
ization was made indicates that the
present organization status of the set
tiers will be maintained.
Leading members of the association
emphasized the fact that the national
government is expanding millions of
dollars for the improvement of the Mis-
sissippi river to the great benefit upon
those adjacent to it, and that sums for
the region of the slope lands of the
southern states, and that It would be
willing to give substantial resistance to
the people who are building up only
the greater sections of the Rocky
mountain region.
A motion was adopted favoring the
furnishing of water this year to the
settlers under the New York canal who
had been advised by the government
that they should sign contracts for
water by the early part of next year in
order to secure the same.
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