Village of Hailey v. Riley

95 P. 686, 14 Idaho 481, 1908 Ida. LEXIS 60
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 12, 1908
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 95 P. 686 (Village of Hailey v. Riley) 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
Village of Hailey v. Riley, 95 P. 686, 14 Idaho 481, 1908 Ida. LEXIS 60 (Idaho 1908).

Opinion

STEWART, J.

This is an appeal from the judgment. The record presented to this court consists of the judgment-roll and a statement of the case settled and allowed by the trial court.

The plaintiff alleges in the complaint that it is the owner and in possession of a public easement of an undivided one-ninth interest in a certain ditch, and has the right to convey in said ditch known as the Big Ditch, taking water from Wood river, in Blaine county, Idaho, 700 inches of water through said ditch and laterals; that it is the owner and in the possession of all ditches and laterals for the purpose of conveying water along, over and upon the lots, blocks, streets and alleys of Hailey; that it is the owner of a public easement, and in the possession and entitled to the right to use 700 inches under four-inch pressure, of the waters of Big Wood river, through said ditch and laterals, for irrigation and domestic purposes. It is then alleged that the defendant claims some interest in said property which is without any right whatever. Plaintiff demands judgment that the defendant set forth his claim to said property, and that a decree be entered adjudging that he has no interest in said property, and that the plaintiff’s title is good and valid, and that the defendant be enjoined from asserting any claim to said property.

The defendant puts in issue the allegations of the complaint by denials, and alleges that in April, 1883, the Oregon Land and Improvement Company located and appropriated a water right to the extent of 6,000 inches of water out of the waters of Wood river, and constructed the canal mentioned in plaintiff’s complaint, known as the Big Ditch, for the pur[486]*486pose of carrying and conveying said water to the place of intended nse, and prosecuted said work diligently until the same was completed to the full carrying capacity appropriated. That this defendant and his predecessors in interest have, for more than twenty years, been in the sole, exclusive, complete, absolute and undisputed control, possession and management of said ditch, and of the laterals connected with or used in connection therewith, and of the water flowing in, or carried, or conducted through said ditch and laterals, to the full capacity of said ditch, to wit, 6,000 inches; that for more than twenty years before the commencement of this action the defendant and his predecessors in interest have been the sole, exclusive, absolute and undisputed owners of said ditch and laterals, and said water right and water appropriation, to the full capacity of said ditch and laterals, and during all this time have exercised and enjoyed all the power and rights of ownership in fee, and during all of said time have received and collected for their sole and exclusive use and benefit the rents, profits and income from the use of said property; that through mesne conveyances, said property has been transferred and conveyed by the original owner and locators to this defendant, who is now the sole, exclusive and absolute owner thereof, and for several years before the commencement of this action has had the sole, exclusive, complete and absolute control and management of said ditch and laterals and said water right and water appropriation to the full capacity of said ditch; and that this defendant and his predecessors in interest have for more than twenty years paid all the taxes levied and assessed against said property.

As a further defense, the defendant pleads the statute of limitations, under sees. 4036, 4037 and 4060, Rev. Stat. Upon the issues thus presented, the court made his findings of fact and conclusions of law, and entered a decree as follows:

“Wherefore, by reason of the law and findings aforesaid, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed that the village of Hailey is entitled to the right to the use and possession of 271.45 inches of the waters of Big Wood river, through what is [487]*487known as the Idaho & Oregon Land Improvement Company Hitch or ‘Big Hitch’ and laterals, which is taken from said Big Wood river abont four and one-half miles north of the village of Hailey, Blaine county, Idaho, measured under a four-inch pressure, at thec point where the main lateral is diverted from said ditch, near the northeast corner of the town of Hailey, for any and all legitimate street purposes on the streets and alleys of the said village of Hailey. That the defendant has no right, title or interest whatever in the plaintiff’s right to the use of said water or any part thereof. Except and provided, however, that if, at any time or times, the said full quantity of 271.45 inches of water shall not be necessary to be used as aforesaid, the said village shall, at such times, take of said quantity only so much as shall be so necessary, and permit the remainder to flow uninterrupted in said ditch.
“That the village of Hailey has an easement in said Idaho & Oregon Land Improvement Company Hitch or ‘Big Hitch’ and in the laterals extending from the same to, along and upon the streets and alleys of said village, to the extent of conveying through said ditch and laterals 271.45 inches of water, and that the defendant has no right, title or interest whatever in said easement.
“That plaintiff have judgment for its costs expended herein, amounting to the sum of $103.00.
“Hated February 2d, 1906.”

By the pleadings the issues presented to the court for decision are:

1. Is the plaintiff the owner of a public easement and in the possession of an undivided one-ninth interest in what is known as the Big Hitch, taken from Wood river in Blaine county, Idaho, and an equal interest in the laterals extending from said ditch to said village; and has the plaintiff the right to convey 700 inches of water through said ditch and laterals for use on the streets of said city or village ?

2. Is the plaintiff the owner and in the possession of any and all ditches taken from said ditch and laterals for the pur[488]*488pose of conveying water alongé over and upon the lots, blocks,, streets and alleys of said village of Hailey?

3. Is the plaintiff the owner of a public easement in the-possession and right to the nse of 700 inches of water, measured under a fonr-inch pressure, of the waters of said Big Wood river through said ditch and laterals for irrigation and domestic purposes?

4. Has the defendant been the sole and exclusive owner of the whole of the property described in the complaint and seised and possessed of the same, and in the sole and exclusive control thereof, and paid taxes thereon for a period of time exceeding five years?

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Bluebook (online)
95 P. 686, 14 Idaho 481, 1908 Ida. LEXIS 60, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/village-of-hailey-v-riley-idaho-1908.