The Caldwell Tribune

FIRST STEP TO THWART NEW DRAINAGE CONTRACT

Demurrer Argued as Preliminary to Attack on Extension

Argument was heard by District Judge Bryan Thursday afternoon on a demurrer presented by a Boise attorney on behalf of those who oppose confirmation of the Nampa-Meridian irrigation district proceedings. This is the first legal step taken to block the plan of extending the drainage system into the Five and Ten Mile creek sections near Meridian. Judge Bryan took the matter under advisement. If he overrules the demurrer, the hearing of the case will be held before the end of the present term of court.

Compromise Offered

Officers of the Nampa-Meridian district report having received a definite proposal from the men who object to present extension plans. They say the objectors offer to compromise and drop their threatened campaign of opposition through the courts if the government and the district will revise the present proposal and stop the drainage extension two miles short of the proposed limit. The district officers intimate that there is no possibility of putting through such a revision of the plans now elaborated. If this be true, it seems inevitable that the objectors will succeed in their apparent aim of blocking the extension. By the simple expedient of appealing from an unfavorable decision in the district court the protestants will hold the matter up past July 1. If the new contract is not signed before that time no contract will be possible before the next session of congress.