Laserfiche WebLink
<br />OOlOiG <br /> <br />.lo, <br /> <br />the only property he got was subject to defendants' prior right, the <br />anS'ller is that the same sit.uation eltist.ed in Sterling v. Pawnee oompany. <br />It there might; have been equally well said that the agricultural right <br />of the Pawnee oompany was subject to the domestio use of Sterling, but <br />this oourt rejeoted that oonstruotion in positive terms. p. 426. <br /> <br />I ., <br /> <br />(5) The argument of defendants, based on deoisions from other states, <br />that peroolations belong to the owner of the soil is unsound in Colorado. <br />Ever since Comstook v. Ramsay, 55 Colo. 244, 133 Pac. 1107. we have held '., <br />seepage and percolation belong to the river, lUId have gone so far. though <br />against the judgment of the writer. as to hold that one may not reoapture <br />lealcage from his own reservoir. Rio Grande Co. v. Viagon Vlheel Gap Co.. <br />68 Colo. 437, 191 Pac. 129. See, also, Durkee Ditch Co. v. lieans. 63 Colo. <br />6, 164 Pao. 503; Trowell Co. v. Bijou Dist., 65 Colo. 202, 176 Pac. 292; <br />Fort Morgan Co. v. l1cCune, 71 Colo. 256, 206 Pao. 393; and since it belongs <br />to the river it belongs to the people of the state by artiole 16, seotion <br />5 of her Constitution. <br /> <br />These oases refute any claim that peroolation or seepage of any water <br />belongs to the land owner, and fix the prinoiple that any appropriation <br />of it must be subject to all prior appropriations from the river, whioh <br />seems in aooord with the main part of the above quoted statute, but are <br />contrary to the proviso thereof. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />If it be olaimed that we cannot establish a rule contrary to a <br />statute. we answer that it is true, but since the Constitution gives the <br />river water to the people, subjeot to appropriation, and since the seepage <br />belongs to the river it belongs to the people by force of the Constitution <br />and the statute cannot transfer it and it must be subjeot to appropriutions <br />as river water. <br /> <br />It follO\vs that the judgment nn.lst be, and it is affirmed. <br /> <br />On Rehearing. <br /> <br />En Bano. <br /> <br />J.ffi. JU3TICE BURKE. <br /> <br />The foregoing opinion was announced February 27, 1928. On the 13th <br />of the follovling month a petition for rehearing was filed. Silt days later <br />that petition was granted. Ma.y 7. 1928. the oause was re-argued orally. <br />It now appeared that while the opinion rested upon the assumption that <br />the seepage in question "belongs to the river" suoh assumption was one <br />of' fact, the finding of whioh the reoord left in doubt. Aooordingly on <br />June 11, 1928. we remanded the cause with directions to the trial oourt to <br />find ''whether the water in question ever reached the river, and if not <br />whether it Vlould reaoh the river if not diverted but left to itself." <br />Complying therevlith that court in a supplemental finding whioh, on October <br />30. 1928. Was made a part of this reoord, speoifioally held "That the <br />water in question did reach the river; and that said water, if not diverted <br />but left to itself, Vlould reach the river." <br /> <br />-3- <br />