Show GOVERNMENT DEfENDS DEfENDS' SETTLERS BOISE Ida Feb IS United United States District Attorney C. C H. H has bas been notified by tho the department of justice to work co operatively with the department depart depart- ment merit of the tho interior through tho the depart I reclamation reclamation mation matlon service in taking up tim the defense of ot 1800 settlers settlors on omu tho the Minidoka government govern govern- ment mont irrigation project who with about tho the same number of additional water users residing i on adjacent irrigation projects projects pro pro- are arc made defendants in itt a a. suit In Inequity Inequity inequity equity filed by the tho Twin Falls Canal company com corn pany action in lii which cae CaCe has bas been brought to determine the tho respective m e rights claims and priorities of ot the plaintiff plaintiff plaintiff plain plain- tiff and defendants In and to the use uso of or ortho tho the waters of the Snake river rhe This suit Is one ono of the largest and destined to be the most important that has ever been blen Instituted in southern n Idaho over tho the validity of or water sights rights Time Uio Twin Falls Land company compan petitions the courts for a decree giving the plain plain- plaintiffs tiffs the use muse of cubic feet per second of Ume time dating from June 25 35 5 1900 1000 and und that the Ohm plaintiffs plaIntiff's rights be prior to all other rights Action was brought in the district Court In Twin Falls county some sometime sometime time tinie ago Secretary Ballinger of the department of the Interior Inte is made a defendant de de- de- de deI I In the case and will probably ap appear appear appear ap- ap pear in court in Idaho when the case is given 1 a a. hearing So far as the government is iR concerned It will but look after the rights right of the settlers now residing on government Ir Irrigation Irrigation Irrigation Ir- Ir projects who are made defendants defendants defend defend- ants in iii the action It was owing to the thc fact fart that the government built this project project project pro pro- and derives its waters for the same from the Snake river that th the tho department depart depart- ment of the interior petitioned the department de de- de- de of justice to authorize United States District Attorney Iter to take the tho leadership In the defense of the tho defendants and virtually represent the government in whatever litigation m may y arise out of this test te-st to definitely determine determine de de- de- de termine teu priority water rights Aside from tho actual settlers other defendants In this suit Bult are named as follows follows follows fol fol- fol- fol lows lows- Twin Falls Land Water company a corporation organized under the state laws of Utah the Twin Falls North SIeLand Side SIe Land LandVater Water Vater company a a. corporation organized under the laws of or Delaware tho the Twin Falls Oakley Land Water company a 11 corporation organized nuttIer the tho laws of Delaware the American Falls Water Vale I company compall organized under the laws of Wisconsin the tho Washington Irrigation Irrigation Irrigation gation Colonization company compan organized organ organ- under the laws of the state of Wash Wash- ington In lii many respects this thus big bug water case Is Ia decidedly unique With 1800 1500 settlers se who reside on the Minidoka l project made defendants and more who reside on other projects promoted by the above named above named companies s. tho the court finds finda itself taxed in I order ordem to serve the necessary summons on all in time so that returns can be had This was accomplished by hy operating a large number of fast fat traveling vehicles over over oyer the projects which were occupied by officials and drives made to the re remote remote u-c- u mote corners of ot the land aa as well ell as the themore themore themore more centered sections section and the summons served on the settlers In view of the fact that the plaintiff and each ach and every everyone everyone everyone one of the defendants claims some and interest in or to t the e use muse of the waters of the Snake river river and and the Clue right to di divert divert dl- dl vert ert water from It they thy all had to have personal summons served In Its course across southern Idaho Snake river is tapped by irrigation projects pro pro- jelts and the water diverted into canals fanals nals to feed the land for agricultural purposes This practice has been so general in and around the thin Minidoka 1 and Twin win Falls country in the south and central ce Idaho that the water has been bren diminished affecting af at- many of the e J projects ic im The canals of the Twin FK Falls Canal company y have been hicen lowered so tar fat as water supply is concerned as a result and Its title to cubic feet as assailed The present case ease will go go to trial either in Twin Falls or orthis orthis orthis this city and the status of all aU water rights adjusted |