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Show PUi TO PROTECT SETTLEJSI Uli State of Idaho Takes Up Question of Those Who Are on Big Lost River. Special to The Tribune. BOISE, .Idaho, Nov 20. The settlers on the Big Lost River Irrigation project and those who left there, but, still have their contracts with the Big Lost River Irrigation company, now defunct, ore to bo given tho first consideration and precaution pre-caution will be taken to see that their rights and their contracts are protected by the stato through the land board, when negotiations are entered Into to reclaim tho unfinished project and place It on its foot. This was the Information given out toflny by Attorney General J. II. Peterson Peter-son when Interviewed as to what steps the state purposes to take, now that tho circuit court of appealH has handed down a decision In the foreclosure and Hen suit brought by Corey Bros. Construction company. com-pany. In which this company won, securing secur-ing a Judgmont for approximately $650,-000. $650,-000. The stato has been led to bellevo that upon tho handing down of tho circuit court's opinion stops would Immediately be talcn, In the event of an affirming opinion, to go ahead with plans to complete com-plete tho works on tho Big Lost River project no that water can bo delivered to the land included within Its borders for Irrigation purposes. That the state land board Is looking forward toward Immediate Imme-diate activity along this llnu Is evident, and not only cxpocts It, but Is anxious to sec -tho negotiations opened without further delay. The completion of tho project In the earliest possible time is. In brief, the slogan of tho state and the stale land board. This Is looked upon now as the paramount Issue. "The stato land board purposes to see that the settlors who are now on the project or who wore forced to leave It are taken caro of and protected In every way," said Attorney General Peterson today. to-day. "Wo Intend to hog that their contracts con-tracts with the old company aro nlso protected, pro-tected, so that there will be every precaution pre-caution taken to safeguard their Interest. In-terest. "I believe now that tho completion of the project at the earliest possible moment mo-ment Is what wo should work forward to, for that is the main issue. To my mind, all others aro secondary. The land Is there and so Is tho water. It Is a question ques-tion of delivering that water to tho land and when that Is dono there will bo no hotter project In this stato or In any other stato tlian the Big Lost River. "I have been led to bellove and other members of the land board havo been led to believe that upon the handing down of an opinion by tho circuit court of appeals ap-peals action would Immcdlatelv bo taken with a view of completing the- project, and 1 havo every reason to think that this will be done. Tho stale land board proposes to give this matter Its closest attention at-tention and will lnlst on definite action within as short a time as possible" "While tho attorney general did not express ex-press lilmself on this point. It Is understood under-stood that In order to protect what they now have tied up In tho project the Corey Bros. Construction pooplo will endeavor to mako somo arrangement whereby they can take charge ,of the project and rush It to as early completion as possible In order to savo what It has Involved and to protect tho rights of all parties concerned. con-cerned. In tho event of tho salo of the property. 11 Is believed the Corey Brothers will hid It In and then proceed with arrangements ar-rangements with tho land board to pro-vldo pro-vldo for cither tho completion of the Mackay dam or the selection of a now dam slto and tho construction of a dam thore. That tho members of tho state land board aro determined In their stand from tho governor down to assume an insistent insist-ent attitude with relation to the completion comple-tion of tho Big Lost River project Is evident evi-dent when tho subjecl was called to their attention today. That they expect and bellevo the project will be completed and that tho settlers who invested In Its lands will bo protected In ovcry possible way by them was also evident. The hoard mombors Intend to prevent any unnecessary unneces-sary delay In going ahead with the reclamation work and tho land board Is In a position to be Insistent. |