Canada v. City of Shawnee

The defendant, city of Shawnee, purchased 70 acres of land some seven or eight miles from the city. The plaintiffs for 30 years or more have owned farms adjoining and near the defendant’s 70-aere tract. The plaintiffs’ farms and all of the surrounding country had always been abundantly supplied with clear, pure, cold water in wells and gushing springs. The supply of water was described as apparently inexhaustible.

For the purpose of augmenting its water supply the defendant city dug 12 wells on its 70-acre tract 'and equipped each well with a 7y2 horse power motor and pump. Enormous volumes of…