799
FEDERAL BBPORTER.
been deemed necessary, or at least expedient, to obtain from the state a relinquishment of jurisdiction; but where jurisdiction over them is vested in the United States, prior to the organization of the state government, this is not necessary. My conclusion is that the treaty of March 2, 1868, remains in full force, and has not been repealed; that by virtue of its terms the Ute reservation is within the jurisdiction of the United States, and that the federal courts of this district have jurisdiction of the case stated in the information. The order prayed is accordingly denied. HALLETT, D. J., concurs.
MASON and others v. COTTON and others. (Oircuit Oourt, D. Colorado. November 17, 1880.) 1. RIPARIAN OWNER-USE OF WATER.-Each riparian owner has aright, within his own territory, to the use of the water as it flows, return. ing it to the channel of the river for the use of others below. 2. SAME - SAME -
EQUITABLE RELIEF.-If, however, the water may be conveniently used by two riparian owners, without strictl.l· enforcing 8uch right, a court of equity may refuse to lend its aid. therefore, a riparian owner would not be enjoined from taking water from a river for the use of his mill, although it was not returned to the channel of the river before it reached the territory of an adjoining owner, where it was not clear from the evidence that such adjoining owner could 110t use the water with substantially the same results through the race of the defendant's mill.
3.
SAME-SAME-SAME.-Held,
Motion to Dissolve Injunction. Wells, Smith cf Ma,con, for plaintiffs. Il. M. It Willard Teller and Haynes, Dnnning J: Haynes, for defendants. HALI,ETT, D. J. Plaintiffs own a flouring mill, situated near Fort Collins, in this state, which is operated by water obtained from the Cache-a·la-Poudre river, through a. race about one mile and one·fourth in length. This mill and race
MASON
v.
COTTON.
'198
have been tlsea by plaintiffs and thei.r grantors since 1872. In the /;jummer of 1879 the Fort Collins Water-power Com.pany, one of the defendants, made another race or canal" parallel in its general course to that by plaintiffs, and above the latter, so as to take water from'the Cache-a-laPoudre river at a point about one·fourth of a mile above the head of plaintiffs' race. In the same year one Joseph P. Watson, baving obtained water-power from the Fort Collins Company, erected a flouring mill on tHe line of that company's canal, about one-half mile abovE! plaintiffs' mill, and 50 yards from plaintiffs' race. Obtaining power from a point on the river. above the head ·of plaintiffs' race, the position of Watson's mill is such that the waters used in operating it may be delivered into plaintiffs' race, and flow thence dowJ:? to plaintiffs' mill. When the Watson mill was completed and. set in operation in September, 1879, this was done by agreement between Watson and plaintiffs" and both mills were run with the same water through the autumn of that year, and until business was suspended by plaintiffs in the early part of this year. It is said, however, that this use of the same water by both parties was attended with much dif-, ficulty in operating plaintiffs' mill, as the water came to them irregularly, and not in sufficient quantity to run the mill. Accordingly plaintiffs revoked the permission they had given to Watson to deliver his water into their own race, and insisted upon their right to take water from the river through their race, as they enjoyed it before the Fort Collins canal was taken ant, and before the Watson mill was built. In the early part of this year defendant Carter Cotton purchased the Watson mill, and soon thereafter, in compliance with plaintiffs' demand, changed his tail.race so as to carry the water from his mill to the river under plaintiffs' race. It will be remembered, that, by some understanding or agreement between plaintiffs and Watson, the water from this mill was before that time delivered into plaintiffs' race, with a view to run plaintiffs' mill with the same water, and by this change such use was entirely abandoned. In August last it was found that the waters of the river were not sufficient to BUp-
704
FEDERAL REPORTER
ply the races of both mills, and the defenda.nt Carter Cotton, continuing to divert the same for the use of his mill, this bilI was filed by plaintiffs in the district court of Larimer on the first of·· September, to restrain such diversion. An injunction was allowed in that court, and subsequently much testimony was taken by a referee before the case was removed into this court; and upon that evidence and the pleadings the present motion to dissolve the injunction is founded. Upon all the evidence it may be said that there is not at all times in the river sufficient water to run both mills, unless the same water can be used for both of them. Such · was the condition of the river when the bill was filed, and it seems that it was in the same condition during last winter. And the right of plaintiffs to take water from the river through their race, as they and their grantors have done for many years, is not denied; so that it may be assumed that at the head of their race, and thence down to their mill, they are entitled to the use of the water as riparian owners. Defendants may have the same right at the point where they take the water from the river, and thence down to the head of plaintiffs' race, where, upon familiar principles, they are bound to return the water to the channel of the river for plaintiffs' use. Conceding, then, plaintiffs' right to divert the water and use it as claimed, defendant Carter Cotton cannot assert a right to the use of it lower down the river, and within the territory already conceded to plaintiffs; for each riparian owner has a right, within his own territory, to the use of the water as it flows, returning it to the channel of the river for the use of others below j and, at the point where defendants' mill is located, that right is apparently in the plaintiffs. Manifestly, then, the defence to this suit, if any exists, is to be found in the circumstance, if it can be estab· lished, that the same water may be used for both mills, with· out serious detriment or hindrance to either. And that will not be an absolute and full defence; because, as before stated, the right of the plaintiffs in the use of the water, as they nave hitherto enjoyed it, appears to be clear. But if it is seen that the water may be conveniently used by both
MASON V. OOTTON, .
795
parties, a court of equity may withhold its hand-leaving the parties to the remedies afforded by law. The river not hav, ing sufficient water for both mills, independent of each other, if plaintiffs may use the water after it has passed from defendants' mill with substantially the same results as if obtained by continuous flow through their own race, refusal so to use it would be mere captiousness, in which t.he court ought not to aid them. In this view the evidence has been carefully examined to determine the fact whether plaintiffs may use the water delivered into their race out of defendants' mill as well as if otherwise obtained. And although the evidence is strongly conflicting and not of the most satisfactory kind, it seems reasonable to believe that the water may be used by both parties. Witnesses testify that with apparatus well known, and already applied in defendants' mill, the water may be sent out to plaintiffs' race in even and continuous flow; and, if so transmitted, the use of it one-half mile below would seem to be flee from difficulty. Some testimoJlY is given to show that the water was at times last winter shut off by Watson, to gain a head for his mill, and no doubt is entertained as to the injury to plaintiffs by such conduct. But if those acts of his grantors can be imputed to Carter Cotton, the present defendant, it does not follow that the present defendant is now inclined to the same course, or that. he will persist in it when informed that he has no right to proceed in that manner. The question for present consideration is larger and .broader than that which may arise from the manner of using the water by defendant, and relates to any use of it by him during a great part of the year. To maintain this injunction would deny the right of the defendant to any t£se of the water when the volume of the stream is not sufficient for both mills, and when possibly the water may be. used by both mills with equal advantage. It is true that.we have no right here to impose upon the plaintiffs the terms which the defendant shall take water from :Qis tailasks to establish-that race; but we can deny to plaintiffs relief in equity, leaving t.hem to their r.dian a.t law, in which all the
'/96
FEDERAL
may be considered in coining at the measure of damages. If plaintiffs captiously refuse to receive water in a way which may be as useful to them as if it should be brought from the river through their own race, the jury will know what estimate to put up'on their conduct. If defendant, by shutting off the water entirely, :pl'e'Vents the flow to plaintiffs' mill, the jUl'ywill be equally prepared. to redress the wrong. And, when the rights of the parties have been determined at law, if either party' shall persist in flagrant violation of such COIne to the relief of the other, with adjustment, equity a better understanding of what needs to be done. This injunction will be dissolved, but the bill may stand if plaintiffs conceive that it may be of use to them hereafter.
,ADAMS
and others
t1.
TERRELL.
(Circuit (Jourl, W. D. Texas. November 20, IS80.)
Trespass. This was an action of trespass to try title, and was submitted to the court upon an agreed statement of facts. 'The plaintiffs and the defendant both claimed title to the lands in controversy under one Enoch Jones, deceased; the plaintiffs as his heirs at law, and the defendant as purchaser at a sale made by the order of the district court for the western district of Texas, sitting in bankruptcy.