Tapper v. Idaho Irrigation Co.

210 P. 591, 36 Idaho 78, 1922 Ida. LEXIS 166
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedJune 1, 1922
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 210 P. 591 (Tapper v. Idaho Irrigation Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tapper v. Idaho Irrigation Co., 210 P. 591, 36 Idaho 78, 1922 Ida. LEXIS 166 (Idaho 1922).

Opinions

DUNN, J.

This action was brought by appellants for damages for failure of respondent to furnish water during the season of 1915 for irrigating certain lands, owned by appellants, according to contracts existing between the parties to this action. Respondent is a corporation organized for the purpose of constructing an irrigation system and providing water for the reclamation of lands in Blaine and Lincoln counties under what is commonly known as the Carey Act, and appellants are holders of four contracts entered into between the respondent on the one hand and appellants and their predecessors in interest on the other. The case was tried before a jury and a verdict returned in favor of respondents. From the judgment entered upon said verdict this appeal was taken. Numerous errors are assigned by appellants but we think the case may be disposed of in this court by a determination of one question, or possibly two.

[82]*82Five segregations of land have been made under the contract between the respondent and the state of Idaho numbered respectively 9, 10, 11, 12 and 22. The land contracts involved in this action were made under what is known as the first segregation, list No. 9; but it is conceded by both parties that the contracts entered into between respondent and the state of Idaho as to lists 9, 10, 11 and 12 and the individual contracts involved herein are to be considered and construed as one contract. Subsequent to the making of the contracts covering the lands, embraced in lists 9, 10, 11 and 12 respondent entered into what is called a supplemental contract with regard to lands embraced in list No. 22. It is urged by appellants that the right of the respondent to distribute water to settlers on the lands embraced in list 22 on an equal footing with those upon lands embraced in the other four lists can be and ought to be adjudicated in this action. This question cannot be determined in this action for the reason that this issue is not presented by the pleadings herein, and for the further reason that if such issue were presented by the pleadings, not all of the parties necessary to a full determination of this question are before the court.

The sole question to be determined is whether respondent bound itself to deliver the specific amount of water set out in the contracts, viz., one-eightieth of a cubic foot of water per second per acre during the irrigating season, so that in case of its default in this regard it can be held to respond in damages. The contention of appellants is that the contracts must be so interpreted, while the contention of respondent is that respondent bound itself only to deliver to appellants their proportionate part of the water that could be supplied from its appropriation in Big Wood River and Malad River, so that in case of shortage in the supply due to drougth or to other natural causes its contract would be fulfilled if appellants received their fair proportion of the available water supply.

Respondent further contends that during the year 1919, 'when the alleged damage occurred, it was acting simply in the place of the holding and operating company, The Big [83]*83Wood River Reservoir and Canal Company, and that it had no responsibility with regard to the water supply except to equitably distribute it among the land owners. The contract between the respondent and the state of Idaho, entered into on the 8th day of May, 1907, which covered the lands embraced in list No. 9, contained the following provisions:

“4. Appropriation of Water.
“It is understood that the party of the second part is the owner of a right to divert from the Big Wood River and Malad River 3000 cubic feet per second of time of water, under permit Number 1817, issued by the State Engineer of the State of Idaho, on the 16th day of November, 1905.
“And the said party of the second part agrees to furnish and deliver to the owners of shares in said reservoir and irrigation system, as specified in the other provisions of this contract, all of said appropriated waters to which the said second party may be entitled to the extent of one-eightieth (1/80) of one (1) cubic foot per second of time per acre, said water to be furnished for the reclamation of the lands included in said First Segregation, List Number 9, together with any other lands not included in said First Segregation, but which are so situated as to be susceptible of irrigation and reclamation from the canal and distribution system designed for the irrigation of the lands included in said List Number 9.
“And the said second party hereby covenants and agrees that it has not done, suffered or permitted on its part any act or thing by reason whereof the appropriation so made, of the water of Big Wood River and Malad River, for the purpose of the irrigation and reclamation of lands through the system of works to be constructed hereunder, has been or in the future may be in any way impeached, clouded or impaired.....
“6. Application for Lands.
“The said party of the first part, through its State Board of Land Commissioners, agrees that it will not approve any application for or filing on the lands herein referred to [84]*84as the First Segregation, List Number 9, until the person or persons so applying shall furnish to the said Board a true copy of the contract entered into with the party of the second part for the purchase of sufficient shares of water rights in said reservoir and irrigation system for the irrigation of said lands, said shares of water rights to be evidenced by the stock of the Big Wood River Reservoir & Canal Company, Limited, as hereinafter provided.
“The second party stipulates and agrees that to the extent of the capacity of the irrigation works and to the extent of its water rights, it will, as rapidly as lands are open for entry and settlement sell or contract to sell water rights or shares for land to be filed upon to qualified entry-men or purchasers without preference or partiality, other than that based upon priority of application; it being understood, however, that priority of- application or priority of entry or settlement shall not give any priority of right to the use of water flowing through the canal as against subsequent purchasers, but shall entitle the purchaser to a proportionate .interest only therein, the water rights having been taken for the benefit of the entire tract of land to be irrigated from the system. The priority of the -application upon the opening, days shall be determined by a system of drawing under the direction of the State Board of Land Commissioners.....
“8. Price of Water Rights.
“ .... But in no case shall water rights or shares be dedicated to any of the lands aforementioned or sold beyond the carrying capacity of said canal system or in excess of the appropriation of waters as hereinbefore mentioned.....
“9. Transfer of Management and Possession of Canal.
“It being necessary to provide a convenient method of transferring the ownership and control of said canal from the said party of the second part herein to the purchasers of said water rights in said canal and for determining their rights among themselves and between said purchasers and [85]

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Bluebook (online)
210 P. 591, 36 Idaho 78, 1922 Ida. LEXIS 166, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tapper-v-idaho-irrigation-co-idaho-1922.