Munroe v. Ivie

| Utah | Jun 15, 1880

BoREMAN, «T.,

delivered the opinion of the court:

This is a suit for injunction to restrain respondent from appropriating water from Maple Grove Creelc. Upon the hearing of the case upon its merits in the court below, judgment was given for respondent, and thereupon appellant brought the case to this court.

The judgment of the District Court is objected to mainly upon two general grounds:

First — It is alleged that the findings of fact and decision of the court are contrary to the evidence. The statement shows that the evidence was conflicting. Where there is a substantial conflict, as appears here, the court will not disturb the finding.

Second — It is alleged that the conclusions of law and decree are not the legal results of the facts found. The facts show, substantially, that in 1863 the respondent went upon the ground he now claims water for, and toot steps to hold it, and in 1861 he appropriated water from Maple Grove Creek, upon this land; that he was driven off by the Indians in 1865, and upon the close of the Indian war in 1866, he returned to the land and began using the waters of said creek for irrigating the land, and has continued to do so each year until the present time. In 1861, when he first appropriated the water of the creek, there was a settlement of thirteen families at Scipio, who were appropriating water from the same creek, to irrigate not to exceed two hundred acres of land. Since that time the people of Scipio had improved the channel of the creek, and, by ditching, have brought water from five springs, which did not feed Maple Grove Creek, so that now they have water for 2,400 acres, and irrigate that much. From this time the number of families at Scipio has increased; new settlers were admitted and allowed to take the water. Whilst new settlers were thus allowed to appropriate these waters, the defendant (respondent) was appropriating the water above them at his ranch. This yearly admission of new settlers into Scipio, and their appropriation of the waters, would seem to make it clear that there was no scarcity of water. If new settlers were thus allowed, without objection, to appropriate the water below respondent, we can see no reason why he could not have the same right. Water is something that the appellants could not control in any other way than by appropriation. They could not go and dig ditches and bring water down, and let it run to waste. If they failed to appropriate it, any stranger could appropriate it, and it was not necessary that such stranger should be a member of the irrigating company, nor could such company injure or trample upon his rights. This is a free country, and the lands are open to all, and the appropriation of the water is open to all, and the legislature cannot pass any law that will put it into the power of an irrigating company to control and manage the waters of any part of the Territory, regardless of the rights of parties. Nor will the court allow irrigating companies to become engines of oppression. Taking all of the evidence in this case together, we think that the court below was justified in its findings and conclusions of law.

The judgment is affirmed, with costs.

Hukteb, O. J"., and EheesoN, J., concurred.