Acom v. Frye, No. 7789

No. 7789 | Colo. | Apr 15, 1913

Mr. Justice G abrigues

delivered the opinion of the court.

1. March 1, 1910, E. R. Acom, defendant helow, leased in writing to "William E. Frye, plaintiff below, a quarter section of farming land in Arapahoe county, and agreed- in the lease to furnish 105 inches of water for irrigation. Frye alleges that defendant neglected, failed and refused to furnish this or any amount of water for the irrigation of the land, which prevented him from raising an average crop, to his damage.

Acom admits agreeing in the lease to furnish plaintiff 105 inches of water for irrigation, but alleges that the only ditch for irrigating 'the land, was the High Line canal under which the land lay, of which fact Frye was fully advised; that in April, 1910, he paid the ditch company the amount required to secure 105 inches of water for plaintiff to use in irrigating the land, and that plaintiff was thereafter entitled to use this water whenever it was flowing in the canal, of which he had notice; that there was a sufficient amount flowing in the canal during the last half of April, the entire month of May, and at periods during the remainder of the irrigating seasons to supply the water necessary for the irrigation of the land, and if plaintiff did not use it, it was his fault.

The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, motion for a new trial was overruled, judgment was pronounced on the verdict, and defendant brings the case here for review.

2. The uncontradicted testimony shows that Frye, prior to leasing the premises, was informed by the defendant that the ditch water used for irrigating the farm was obtained from the High Line ditch. It also shows he made inquiries regarding the source of the water and was informed by the prior tenant that the ditch water for irrigating the place came from that canal. He testified on cross examination that he knew before he signed the lease that the 105 inches of water agreed to be furnished for the irrigation of the land was taken from the High Line canal. The ditch rider testified that the water ran in the ditch continuously from the 17th of April until about the 1st of June; that plaintiff used no water until May 6th, and then only a portion of the amount to which he was entitled.

Defendant paid, in apt time, all the charges required by the ditch company for carrying the water, and it was in the canal at all times at the free disposal of plaintiff whenever the ditch conld obtain it from the river on its priority.

3. We will consider only the assignment of error, that the verdict is contrary to the law and the evidence.

It is a matter of common knowledge, about which there ought to be no controversy, that farming- in this arid region can only be successfully prosecuted by means of irrigation. Our constitution declares the water of every natural stream to be the property of the public, dedicated to' the use of the people, and that priority of appropriation gives the better right to its use'.

Plaintiff knew that the ditches on the river had different priorities, and that in policing the stream in times of scarcity, the officers would close their river headgates in the order of their priorities. It is not claimed that Frye was- a stranger, unacquainted with the conditions and surroundings under which the lease was made, or that any concealment, deception or fraud was practiced upon him relative to the water available for irrigation. He was informed by others, and knew from his investigations that the water to irrigate this farm came from one of the large irrigation canals operating in that community, and he was bound to take notice that it would take its supply in'the order of its priority to the extent that there was water in the stream sufficient to supply its appropriation.

It seems to be tbe theory of plaintiff that there is an express guaranty in the lease that Acorn would supply him a constant flow of 105 inches of water, regardless of whether it was in the canal, or could be obtained from the river. There is no such guaranty in the lease, so it is useless to discuss what would be the effect of such a provision. Whenever water in natural streams is scarce, ditches can divert in the order of their priority only, and while a ditch is “shut out” it of course is unable to deliver any water to its consumers. This custom, and law controlling irrigation in this state was in the minds of both contracting parties when they made thé lease, and will be read into it as constituting a part of the contract.

Reversed and remanded with directions to the lower court to dismiss the action.

Reversed.

Chief Justice Musseb and Me. Justice Scott concur.