The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-09-21
COURT DECISION PAVES WAY To
settlement Of HARD PROBLEMS
Water Users Association
Asks for Full Arrow
Rock Storage; Many
Issues Settled.


Issues Settled.
Federal Judge F. s. Dietrich, in
an opinion handed down Satur-
day in the celebrated Boise val
ley water case, paved the way for
IN agreement between the Pay
ette-Boise Water Users associa-
don and the department of the
interior, in the opinion of men,
bers of the association. In &C.
cordance with the courts hold
ing that al Of Arrow Rock
storage was not as yet definitely
set aside for the Boise project,
G. N. Rankin, president Of the as
ISOLATION, Saturday Immediately
wired John Barton Payne, secre-
tary of the interior, an applica-
ton for the entire storage capacity
OF Arrow Rock in behalf of the
Boise project settlers. He also
expressed for the association will
ingness to meet representatives of
the department in clearing up the
additional phases of the tansle
which remain ~ yet unsolved.
His telegram is as follows:
Hon. John Barton Payne, secretary
of the interior,
Washington, D. c.
In conformity with the federal
court decision handed down today in
the Payette Boise Water Users asso-
cations case we hereby apply on be-
halt OF all our members for all the
water of Arrowrock reservoir, and
hereby express our willingness to NEE,
you or your representatives in settle
ment of our difficulties in line with
the courts decision. Payette Boise
Water Users association, by c. M.
Rankin, president.
OF the 10000 feet of Arrowrock
water not yet sold the court holds that
this matter will for the time rest, as
the settlers have not as yet definitely
shown that they have made suffi.
cient application for it. The telegram
sent to the secretary will probably re.
suit in final settlement of this phase
according to those closely connected
with the case.
y Retains Jurisdiction.
Judge Dietrich did not hand down
decree as it was anticipated by mem.
bers OF the water association. In
fact, in some respects, his opinion was
not SO specific as was his preliminary
decision given about year ago. But
It is interpreted here to mean that
in the event it is found impossible to
negotiate settlement with the de-
partment of the interior, he will be
ready and willing to hand down a de-
cree. He retains entire jurisdiction
in the case, no appeal. being neces-
sary it = satisfactory settlement can
be reached.
Two outstanding matters for, de-
cision in this case were the amount
OF water that settlers on project lands
were to receive and the cost of the
project to them. In fullment of the
courts ruling on the first matter, the
association made application for all
OF Arrowrock storage. No final &C.
counting was made on the other mat
ter. L. J. Mcgee, secretary of the
association, Monday expressed the
belief that the cost of the project
would be about $50 per acre on the
basis OF the courts decision, subject
OF course, to certain additions which
may be made, not the least importan,
of which is a cost of about IS Der
acre for the remainder of Arrowrock
storage. 1t Is estimated that the total
saving to settlers will not be far shor,
OF $40 per acre or almost $4,000, 00O
The Nampa and Meridian and the
Pioneer Irrigation districts were up
held in their contention that they have
legal contracts for supplementary wa
ter from Arrowrock storage. With
these two districts the Water Users
association had made contracts which
the court held to be valid. The status
OF several other independent irriga-
ton districts, however, remain unde-
termined. This question is still in
court under separate and distinct
case.
Board to Meet Today.
Members of the board of direc-
tors of the Payette-B Boise Water
Users association viii meet in
Caldwell this morning for q con-
sideration Of the ruling handed