## 12

OFFICE OF THE AITORNEY **GENERAL** OF TEXAS

ars -gggg; g&E,- CQ~6& 4hs tollowIng &*t1*il, unty or the4%bulge.DlstFlot reoe br$dgm, being btidgeb orfg**y the**  **drabage &ifJtFiOt**  **at the**  **ti?-M** of organization and aeoepbed by the munty at Chat tine, ever dAtehe OS the district ormsin~; the 

### countyroad abbre such brLdga ia either worn out or the dltoh ie beiag **widened** by the diertriot? Al60 in a oaae when a **5ntur6l** drain 01:**ore& Oro8seB**  the eountg mad agd suoh nattm& drain m creek

## 13

Eohox'ableAndrew J. Riokuy, Page dl

is used by the ,drainagedistrict and the dietticitwidena euoh natural drain whioh of the two, the ocunty.or district is required to widen or ru (10the now e auph haturaPa xiatins tkidge ovek

~dxain? Xf yen will either renBox xm youx BapibiOri coverin& the questlone in this la84~par+g*aph ox send laoa oopy of.the 0110heretoB&i Fendered by the forxer A44orney @onera i4 ,wlllbe greatly appreciated.*

Aa u8ed II%the etatutoe hereihaiter quoted, the term 

### *oomisBL3nerswmreTf$to dralnsgeoda8imers 

### and theterm 

### Qoourt”-

rsferito the 

### or,kQisslonsrs’ oourt,

Artiole %1&T, Vernon*a hnnotatdd Oltil,Btatutes, 

### providesat follmst

-#Nsn suah mapa* profile'rsmd,e~sth4tes~
are 80 filed, t&e Court 8haSS make ha ~aq&w 

### direotfngthq 

### iesoanaeofdrainagebcnd*‘fqz 

### mob.distriot, suffielent in mtoun4 to pay'for sooh ~~+~pooedi?~~rf~ementa;together ri4h all neousa$#-yedumS and inoidental ex~edsos J.Onneoted therewith. Suoh bonds ahell 004 exoeed in amcuikorie-rourth of.the asseseod valuation of the real property in such dlstriot, as shown by the last annual asaesexent thereof made ior said distiiot, nor exeseding the amounts spsoified irsaid order and notloe of oXoQt&u~+~

Artiole 8154, Verbon’s Annotated Civil Btatute8, 

### reads. as folS&bst

When the bonds have been rogigtered, the county judge shall, under the direotion of the Couti, advertise and sell said bonds
on the best terms and for tha beet prloe possible, not lee8 then their par value ahd aoorued intereat. All money reooived from euoh sale shall be turned 

### over ae received by the ocunty judge to the County treasurer, and shall be by him plaoed to the credit Of the dlstriot Sn the construotion and mintenanoe fund theraof. The uo'untyjudge shall be allowed one-half of one ?er oent of the amount rec,oive&OA .thesale oi any bonda sold by k&m in full $ynent of hle eerYiUo8 in that behalf."Honorable Aadrew Jr aiokey, Page 3

Antilles 8162, 8165 and 6164, Vernoncs Annotated Givil Statut,ea,provide aa ?ollowsr

wArt. 6188. Ii there rezmins a surplus ot money or bend4 to the 

### orsdit of the dietrlct, etter the ficael~oompletion of all Iraprov4ments~ oontraeted ior, including bridges end 4~lva44, aad after the payment of all axpenes4 incurred hereunder, the oommi~si~~4rs may cause the ai4tFict 8ngiaeOr to rtakea detaLled report of any additional or supplamontal drains, ditohe8 or lerees 

### or other charaoter~of suxfaoe drainage 

### improvements ing thle ,draihage, i,'%%d dietrfet. that may be needed

Such report ahall be,sade and aotad upon ia the ciao.aeF prescribed for the Initial resort of the rnginsar hefor the imwencs of bOhdB. The eBt&bated cost of such additional in4rov4msnts ehsL1 In no ease exceed the amount of surplus money or bonda to the aredit of the dietriot.

.: "Ale. 8163. After the approval of the engineer*s report or 

### a8modified by the Court, the Court shall order an eleotion to be held within tho diatriat at the earliest possible legal time. I534anly proposi.tionpresentsd a*, such eleotios shall be 'For the additional improvemente and Bayment thersror out or ths moneys on hand;' and vA$ainet the additional im~rovemats and payment therefor out of the noneys on hand.' Amajority vote shall be neoeasary to carry such proposition. Notice of such eleotion briefly reciting the charaoter and sooQe of such pr02084a Im~,rov,e!2.enta,stating the estimated coat of mme, and stating the mime and ?l?~oesof holdin% auoh election shall be givs?, eleotion officers, appoln+,ed, returns neda a114usnvassed, snd the raeill+, declared, in like mnnar as provided for the ori,;inalelection.

"Art. 8164. The pmvis1ons of this law relative to the lettin,! of contracts =xndthe construction of im~rovesents thereunder and the authority of the draiuafcecommissioners and the **court** In connection thcF4tith. shall aiwly

### ::.

;‘L The lallgu~ ueed tn the aztia1es quots&,supra, lea&s~..orr

to thr oonuIuaion 

### thatow suoh fundc~,to the oredlt 

### ofthty 

### dlstriot,as were 

### &s?in& troll ths rale **of** bon&s lpay 

### beusedinpamat **l ’** **or** 

### imprcivQmsnts, whether original or 

### rddit:osalr

Artiolao8131and 

### 0138,Vernon'sAnnotatedcivil statutes,protideas r013,owsr

*at. 8187. ~Thsoolmnlesionsrs shallannual4, 09 or before the iirst'&aJ of July pa%% ait&file with 

### thaGotuta full dot 

### Is& ?P" F06p0eor. 

### thea03ati0fi 0f 

### thebpr0~~43as ther6bafiWO

aads fn thedistriot,withan estirntte of the **probabls** 

### aostOPauintamsos and nas&adra~irr)dvrinngthe ansuiegyaar,to- ðertithan immtory ofaU fuads,eiiasto, propertyandaooow%ts

### belongingtosuchdlstrirt,and .alistofall lawfuldaiaands, debts a~nd obUgations againstthedistriot. Bush reportshallbe **verified** 

### b7 theeosanissloners and 

### oa33nfh14 f#lV8~tf~Ut~d alsd aonsldsred by 

### the Court before any lery oi **tsxea** 

### la 

### made under the suoeecldlngertlole.

"AS. 8lSc At 

### thqcame time that taxes' 

### arelariadto meet the bon&e& 

### indabtadaess, the 

### Court *hallaaussto. be~*sreased

and oolleoted 

### taxasupoaall property 

### in the 

### &i8triot,whether 

### real,parscmalor othemfee, sufficient to mlntain,,keep in r+@phir, 

### end topssservve the improvane5tsin thedbtriot, 

### and to 

### payall legal,jwt 

### and lawfuldebts,de!aas&s and obligations

against suah Bistriat. Suoh levy shall never, fn 

### any onagear, exoeed

### one-hali of ene per oent of the 

### total assarrss&valuatioh
or suah dietriot for suah mar* Swh taxes whan 80 eoma0te& nhal.lbe pima in the 

### abnetru0t.ion 

### andmmfntsnanaefund."

drtiole 8139, vernon*a Aatmtats& Civil Statutea, 

### readsas **roiloars**



### *Ifanybondsramsinwhioh are not **reQuir-** & for the completion of the improvemote ~~39

or to be ma&e. then with the oonsent of theHonorable Andrsw .l. Ib$eksy,Pegs 8

Court 

### ady ma&e Of Bublio rb00ra, suoh 

### bonds

cm a part thereof msy be sold em& the proms&s frsm~the esle thereof shall bs placsd in th6 matnte~ae and eonstru0tlon fun4 aad 

## u0sa for tb 

## I~~~-~+osss **3t8t06** itithe p~~kh34- laciarticle.'

The use or the word0 "lrlQrovaments~Ssde or to be madew in ArtiolerES!!?,stqrs, l.iks*lss, fmlicatse an iatsntion
on ths part or the tsgislature to ubs the p_raose&ei or the sals of the bon&# ior iapovsnsnts and *if any bonde rsvmin which **arcnot** WWired fpr the **Obm~letion** si the i!iI~ZOYSiaent0

### ma6 OP .t0b,ama0 ,* they rmp be aold and the prOt38eda -MO&for 

### nlatnwTl5noa glr$ose8.

Fe belisvs that the 'us6o? thtisorat "to the crsaft of the Ustrisk ic the oonstmstion snd msihtsosnae fund thsrsof" ,inArtfols.~, sugrs, sii&-to the orsdit of the district* snd V@pluti money 

### or bimas to ths oreait of the district?, 2n Article 816&, supr& pla~ss sush funas in a Qiffera5t oatogorg in 80 fsr.e'ths purpose ttor whish they 0ay be eppjnaea'is aonosrnsa, rr0ra whioh those ssus rluuds will bs after the hsva bsso plaos& "In the msintenanoe an& ocnstrttctfon M&“, 

### under Article 81K augrar

Article 8160, Vsrnon*s Annotated Civil Statutes, **pro-via03** as followst

*Aftey the establishment of a distriat, all legal and Just expenses, debts and obbligations other then bonar and **intereat** thereon arising and orsated after the fXlin& **of** the original petition and nsossssrily lnuurred in the orsstion, eatsblishin&, operation and mElintananoeof such diskriot, shall be 

## pala
out of the ~Construation and Msintsnemee Fuod,'~ of auah aiatriot whioh shall oounist OS all money, erfeots, property and proaesds received by such distriat from all sourss~, except that portion 0r the tar co3.loetionswhioh shsutll be neoessary to ~sy the intsrsst on the bchded inasbteansss as it falls dus end the paginent
of the bonds at .mturity. 

### ma tax aolleatlons
~hdl be 3lacea in ana *ia out 0r .thelIntereet aud sinking y-a* of suah amriOt for such QWQOS~~S, and sut?hfund may be lnvsutsd 

### for ths bsnerit or the aiotrIot in suah bond8 2~':~

### an4twotidkieaas thsAWoboraoy heoral may approv+ *oh tundo abalI bo held for thq rMJn*tivb PuXps*e8 for uhigh they rem WOati@, M$ it ii!OIM~ i8 imprOD8~~ &mi4 oak 'Uf..eikhr~j.

the CoUrt may ~attebkhb oeuntp. 

### kroartWert(,?&mike thb neoeoaarf kpeasfep of 8UOhk&OUak in Che **biekniot aeeoui&tr.,**  $0 zost&Ps~the ian Be improgar1y u*e&*

In'oW OPinion the ooekb of additional tiproy+ rnsnbs.:are.nbt

awalk*hgal aad.jwk Ligation8 MGmr than bonds atiatilt- CitbD the. fkling of’ brs~~~~insrrr~b4 la the 

### erea$ioa, and Biaink~an~& of 8-h 4irtriotm, **&h ’** **oori44M #bll**  **bb paid**  out of the **te,naabb fiikl&i,** 

**, ’**  **,.** tMBsr the provisiona or ~iole @ltm, aupfs, e44& tionar 

### imQrwenlant6may not be ~enetrwite& without'first aubm&tting kbe~gusukioa to a rote by the faxpayemsm Dabtlr tar the mai&'~Jl0., repair a54 prcaw7etion.oi khe l?nproveneat@ 

### oa %lWother hand, 

### naybe 

### inourmd bar the 

### drainage blatdot witho~tfirst subnitki~n4the question to the voter*, ah4 the ~eammi~sione~a~ oourk~ie autharixs4 (Azkioles 8137, 81.38,SUDfb) t0 XWJ t&XeS iOP the ?ay3lMt'Of 8U8h dEdJlage.dbtrlot debts.

The einawerto ths,.itrst~ueation submitted by gou depaa4~~~upenthe determination of whether khe OutkinPgof the propomb MW ditoh amounts to~"a44it&Onal impremnentt(l*,unbar Artielea 8103 anQ 8103, auprg. or wheti= ouah new ditoh is neeesrary %o malnkain, keep in repair, an4 to preserve the imprwements in the dlstriet* under Art1010 8138, eupre. If the forno~, your question is answera in khe negativer LI the latter, the answer is in tha af~irmatire.

57~have bean unable to find any %BS oases in7017ing the dirsot question bf whether oerkein work 4cne on an sskablished dminags dietriot is to be ola8wd aa Wa44itiona1 i~nprovenents*or *to tueintein,kue' in repair, an4 

### topreasrve the 

### lmprovemntr, in the diets at".

P

In the OESO of mrls Boldins Corp. et al 7. Nilooxi Tom Collsstor of Taxes, 153 Atl. 169, k3 COM. 343, the sourt held that the word nma\lntenaaoe”within a statukeprovi4ing for ths o~onstruakionah4 rnaihkananeeor a sewsr

syskasi,was aok lti~ita4to ths.sterarepair of the disposal roHctaor khe~pmaema.kion in the eollditiocir whioh they wara left eiter oPi,4inal0onstm6tion, but khst 

### csrkeia improvrpmente te the 415p5B61 plant WON) inoltt454 wfkhin 1k. ‘irbquota from th5 oottrtt8opinion a5 tollsws: .-. 

## 18 I

~"fhswar4 r~~~~inkain' has no precise legal ai~ifioan~* in the 6on8kruakion **0r** ekabakss, its ate&&g varying with the skakttket~~im

whioh ik is used,~ths eubjsatimatter' Or the 

## lar, ah4 the purpose k0 ba aoompllehe4 by it,=
fa 

## the ease of Wkh v. 

### Qraysti Ceunky, l&t Tax. 

### MY. ABE. 

### L&38,

44 S.Vf.

931,kheeowt, cM8truiag.khb meaning 

### of the 

### wor&%aintsaanoe" in &kisla 8, %stitta 9 OX Vbraonfe Annokuted 

### TexasGohstitution, authorizing the Lergislatureto p555beal lawa 2er khe.mainteaaaoa~o~ publio roads and highways; used-the roiloari~g lunguaget



### *Tt~irinsiabbd,hcrwer, that this oleues of the oonetitutfon liraitsthe purposes for whiah loos1 laws nosy be 

### passedto,tha ma&tenanaa ot roads 

### alrea4yoosstruotad,tidwoul4' not authorize the passage of a ekatute orsab’ big a roe4 system. We40 not thi#c thuword Qminksnanoe*, as used in this motion 09 ths oaastitukion, wss intended to be us64 in this restricted stmee. By ths use of 

### ths..xcxdsQaaihtenams OS publie roads and:highways,*,the framers of the oonstitution hat!referenoa to maintuining a rpystamof publie roads an4 hi&ways, whioh would lnolude all the nsoessery powers to provide and keep up a sTystan 

### ofhighways: Brown 

### v. Cmihum, 

### 58%x. 254."

In the oaae of gelleher v. Tolnt Dmiuage histriuk So. 18, Greene County, et al, 249N. W:401, 216 Iowa 349, the supre5~ court of Io9m bud before it the question or whether osrtain work dons on a drainage distriot wss repair (under Beotion 7556 of the lOa Iowa aode, not requiring notids to property owners) or briginal construction (uedsr Section 7554 of said 004e, requiring notd08 ko property owners). We quote from the opinion as rollowsr*la hia testimony the engineer plainly

&Saks& tha$ be intehdsd the new as a subetitutbon ior, and not a repair of, the ord tile line, On the appXLlsels land the new tile line Varies 

### a dirrtanoe of fifty reds from the old ti&B line. The ooet of the nm system is. a&g@ tinme more than that of the original oonstivotfoa. &equontly Uurlng tlgdr exominatLon fa the aistrlot court 

### tha engiaeer and the uerabere~o?the board frankly oonieeeed that the origlnal oonotruotion waa inadequate $0 &e&n the land@ within the diotriat, a&l that the aew.improvement wab e substitution theretor,~aa,distiagulahod Prom a rer 

### ir thereof1 While the cost of the now np&ovement ie not eonolusivs in dotermintag whethor the rsorkis s repair or not, yet it may be oonsidsred on that subject. Tar fnstanee it wa6 

### eaidIn Bloomquist Y. B0amVof Superv~soorrr of J&din bounty, 188 Iowa, 994 reading on page.$001, 177 h. W. 95j 9g* ~&deed we shokld.be ~reluotantto hold in any 41~3 that aq eqenditure ,oi190 per0ent. OS tho cost 

### or 86:original improvement should be doomed e meze repair thereof.' Xn,the 0868 antbar, the oost of the new impmmauent is more.than 190 per oent. of the expense of the original work.

Vhen 0onslderiog tho appllcabillty of the tm, eeotiona or tho Cede muunder eonsideration, this courtsaid, in Walker P. Joint &aiaeqo District, 197 Iowa, 351, supra, rciadlngon pages 334, 355, and 336, 197 N. W. 72, 73; *The *repair* that beoame nooeseary boeaumj of the oondition ma not e wrepapBir* o? the physiaal improvement as made upon the land, but it we8 a Vopeir* of the plan of the engfneor who deaigoed the origical iaprovement which was adopted by tho board of supervisors. In other mrds, the original plan for the dreihage OS this traot of land was $h$d$- quate and:.insufficient to do t'hework. There ia no attempt at roplaoensnt, Or shy ropair, modification, or ohaoge 0i any kihd in the original tile as oonstruotod. Ae before stated, the thing that is repaired ia the8OnOWtAbit4 h&Tsr J, Hiokep, -0 9

plan, **and** net the Oonstruotod system. To ropa&r mwuu3 et0 rostoro to a sound or ga0d oondition after dooay, in ury dilapidation,
or partial 

### dostruotioa.*5*& **The** 

### eonstruetionof tbia now tile drain 

### 8,100fleet in length, sqme 900 feet blatant from tho original tile and nearly parallel theroto, and 

## ru**r&dns drainage** 

**far an** entirely 

## iww area 

## of land not drained by the original tile, is not ln any proper se~so a "repair" of tho~osiginal oomtmetion. * * * The word *repairfffa not of suffiakent olaatlaity to 

### petit extension to luoludo work **of** this oharaater.'
Tie, enlarging, reopening, dooDOn&rg;. tidening, straightening, lengthening or tg,

O-f Ing of location f'erbetter serv 06, i dontenq atod by section 7356, lo~to be a repairer of an o&sting system and not the subatltutlon **,of** a now and different **drk** therefor. 4Letha board 'efsupervl~ors did ln.#lalkor'I+Joint Drainage Dintriot 197 Iowa, 351, 197 IT.V.. 78, euprs, the j&t board here ohanged the system beoauao the ortginal plan wan fnadequate. **If** the original levee, drainage.dlatriot, or inprovmmt is inaufrici~nt to **groopsrly** drain tho lands, the prooeduro should be, not under 73543,but 

### under7334 **of** the 1951 Cede. This is true bsoauae it is neoessarg to eetablish 

### a newand original lovoo 

### anddrainagedistriot that will bo adopuato to care for tho wetera on tko land. A now plan~in other words, is neoesaary under those olr~umstanoee. When, then, a new plan is nooessary, the procedure should be under seotlon 7534 or the Code, rather than under section 7556. Section 7556 does not contemplate a new plan and a new system, but rather it presupposes tho ropair of tbt work under an old plan and an old system. Consequently, beaause the joint board of supervisors in the oase at bar adopted a new plan and a nsw system, theyillegally proaeodsd under section 7550. They should have poooeasa under ssotion 7554 &boy% mentioned. The property ownsrs in tho 

### easeat bar 

### wereHonorable Andrar 3. Biekey, Page 10

entltled 

## tom

notioe, as eonteqplated by the laet-aemd esetion.
. . . *

In the eaee et Bidalgo Oouaty Drainage Dietriot No. 1, St Sl Ye ?htSSllatiOM~ CreO44ting b CO?l8tl'U4tiOB CO., (Cfv. App.) 54 $. $I, (Ed **80l,,lllrit** xi~fuaed, suit wa4 instituted by appellee agal! net the draiaage distriot and Didalgo Cotmty,",to.

recover on eertaia warrants fsfauedbr eafd **drainsg4** di8triOt tb the **@90P@1** t%tWt~tiOB CWllpCYlyto eridenoe the Snbebtedneee due said cenetruotion eoegaay for oelrtainlabor and matelrialfurnished to the dietriot for oertain 1ntproWzaenteand repaire on the egetem. Appelleee
were **p?xehasmrs fn**  **fpod** faith of the warrante. In aftine

### inathe jub@knb of the trial 

### courtin farorof aupelleee for the full cum OX the warrants, Ghiei Justioe Fig of the ~on,Antonio Court, us98 the following languaye in th* opin- m

me work wae f'urniehedfor repairs and ImproYeaente on an e&iotinrgdietriot 

### and then

### aateritils

wererurnishedand used f0r twse 

### objeotananedin the oohtraot. ALvote of the terpayere of the dietrict was not e8- sential to the validity oi the **mntrncte** 

### miteby arid

bstweeh the gartlse. Itwae **never** coutaplated by law that evemy time repairs and improvauente beams necessary in
a dreinae district a vote mzuatbe bald. **The** authoritfee of the distriot were fully authorl.zedto do all they did in the preuieee. The eox&eionera* oourt has full authority by article 8138, keviaed Statutes, to.grovfde for the paymnt of the debts evidenoed by the war?ante. !i!he thira and fourth proposltionsare based on bare and unreaeonable tgehaiee.litd.ee,

snd should cot zoet with 1a-m. - at the hands of a oourt of justiae. HIS fifth ysoposition ie also ove~rulea.

ems supplemental contrsot eas mde in the interest of the district, and It rocsivad the b3csfit* from it. Tha 3ixth proposition is ovtrpuled.
*Thie court 8888 00 WOW3sity for entering into a discussion of ths law pcX?Rlittihg i

## 22

XonorableAndrew3.E&0r.ey, Page11

'& is .&t alwar iras the Et&&go County Ih?ainage District eam6, euDra,'what the eimprovcoxentseconsisted of in said oas,e. On ma 861 of the opinion in said eaee, it ia stated that the woe wae *.
. . 

### forctwtain ircprovements and repn%xs on the eyateaa. , .- ZLikmiee, the opinion dose not.say Under *@at eiroumetaseae the law oonteatplatedthat a votemuafbe ha&. It merely stetas that a vote WAS not contemplate% *avery time rep&m and iqgmwmente became neoeaeaPy,*~ In our opinion, the rord *i-,rwmientW ae wed in the Texae case, sqcra, la wed as ~~azA.ngj repaiq rather thsn aciai*bd ,~2~pmmii~nt+ I

Whether oertain wosk~.doaeon an sstablishod dmin- I q8 **aiatriot** ie uaddCtioooa21.~~~rwanrcntnor said drainage distrfet,;yithin the me.ao@#ef Article 816E, 

### suprai**or** 

### momly *to maintain, keep in and to:**3reserva~** the improvements~ia the bietsiot* the meaning **of** Article 6l38, augr~, is R'qtmstinn of iau:.to **be** deai6eE by the drainage authoritiee frm all 

### thetact8 aad oira~mstanc~eain ths *artI-' oular 0834.

From the ,languagsueed in the Rfdalgo County Draina.56District oaee, supra, and from the other authorities 

### dieoueeed herein, 

### itie o*uropinion that DropoaedPrork on an establishe6 drainage district that ie reaeosably necessary to make such drainage system do the work that it 488 uon**temqlated** that it sbouXd do **under** tbe glsn or epot% originallo?adopted, and whioh doe8 not materially alter, add to,
or extend the sooee ot the &snerQ glan or syctcffi, oolliea withiF-the meanlag of tbe terxa*to riiaiutala, keep in repair, aad to preserve the imp,rovesontain the district", in Artiale 61293,sttpra,and may be yuridfor out of ,theconetruction and mainteannoe fund* If, on the s*theohand, such proposed work is not reasonably limited Co the pur:losesjustnmntioned, it would ctxl6tituta "additional im~r.30e,mantsW within the meaning of Artioles 816f?-6164,su_ora,requirioz 9 -noteby the taxpa:prs anil to ?m y?id for only by bonds 31‘rt,?de&Jrived from the sale of the bonds reSIftiiL=iX thd OFedit of the district.

1 -Hemrable..&daeu Y. Xiokoy, l?aga18

In amwex t5 your first puedion therefore you ere reepaetBlly advfmd that It Ir the s&Ion or t& de0 partment that if, Iri th@ Judepnbnt or the dnilllrgeauthfsri-~’ tiea, tha aoWing a? the Bow ditch sunderthe Saots eubsdtted, Bow set go ao Sar as.to be %dd&nal lnprovaasntw under 

### the teat rlbntionsd 

### in the 

### prwsdw paragmph, ths cost therbi3fmay be paid far out ~1 th* ooortntation end maintenanee tuad. 31, cm the other bend, it Ie round that the aattinfg,ofclWh new ~.d.tlmh 00nBtItutea “addl@onal izlpmv6- mantaa, when teeted aflaforesaid, the **oo8t** thereof oould not legally bs paid out af the sonatruotion and znalntenanoa fund, beeawe all iunda iron the iale of the bonds Save been 

### erponded and home ne nuplm lcbmriruto the credit ot the districrt aa required by btiole 0168, mapsa.

I5 anmer to the fint pue8tIon eonridered In paragraph 8 

## of your letter,~you we respeotf?&ly advieed that it Is the opinion of this 

### degaxtmnt that it is the duty.of the drainage dietriat ts replaos bridgcsroriginally built by the drainage dirtriot ovex~ditahes o? ths~dl8trfot oroasin the ouunty road, ewh bridgea being now eIth6r wern **Out Bf**  **et,**adequate because .ofthe widedog or thr ditoh by the dist ria t

. We8re enelosfag a aopy ot our opiafon Roe O-lQ18 whioh deals with this .puestIon. We believe that it la the opinion qou rsier to ins your letter.

.-
rrcnnow understanding o$’your letter, the only substantial dlfierenea between the.

### first and second questions ilrthe seoond paragraph of your letter, Is that In the latter quo&Ion the &adequate bridge 

### 6romsw a %atural* drain I-teed of a drain or ditah oosat;ruotedby.the dI8trIot.

fhrdsrthe raota subrAtted It ir DUF opinion that the lIabIlItp of tho drainage diatsiot Ia the smte with rem peat to the building and maintaining 

### Orbridgw OvL)Iboth types of drains.

Drainage didltriotsare ciuthorlzed and anoountg@d in the Interest of good huabanm, 

### O?the publie health, of the advaneemant or the ganrml upbuilding of the OountrY, and the rescuing of waste portion6 ct land and their hoi% made to serve uaei’uland profitable.PUTpOaW. Jefferson county Drainage District v. LfoYadQfn (CiV. ABP.) 281 3. IS'. 323, **arfirnied** Ccm. **Of** App., 4 8. w. I2U) 33.3
.r 

## ..-.2%

Ronorable Andrew J. Makey, &tga 15

Article 81Cl0,Ptmmn*8 Annotated Civil Statutes, reads az ioUazza

*The engineer shall, within s~ushtima es may be preaoribed **by** the (Joust,go upon the land pr~powd to be draincrdand proteote$ by levees, and make a oareftalsurvey thereof, end from suah survey malt6Qrel3IaInazypla~, kwn" appmzlaatoly the neoeasarg dItahe8, latomla and leilfseo, and :hm&- nats ths stream and bayous naoessa&y to be o~eanbd, deapeneQ and atralghtaned 4 eawmate the ooets thereer 2.ndetaila~rato ea6h Improvsmsnt sontemplatsd, and shall alao estimate the probable sazt si maintaining same 

### per yaar,,and shall at snse maks ,adetailed 

### report or his work to tha Court.* ~ubderscoririg OUSB.)

Bearin& In mintIthe purpose and nature o? drainage districts, ws bellsve.It Is alear&raathe language ussd ymTn~le 8108, suwa, that the words~*tha netae,eeary. .

-*wsra oontanpleted tomi&elude any natural drains or irhG9 whioh asuld be utilizag in affeoting a p~opar drainage aystsm.

Artiole 8153, Vernon*8 Annotated Civil Statutes, read8 a8 folluwst

"All oanals, drains ditches and leveee made ~water ciburfieei deaned or cBBf5truoted many dietriot shall bs the publio properte oi suah distriot, and every psrsoa swnlng district shall hats the right
or ,mre ot euoh publis drains, and at his own expsnsa to make drainz aooordIng to the natural slops of the land through suoh other lands as intervene batwean his land and ths nearest qubliu drain or wat8rWourse,
or along a public highway. Suoh oaasr shall first notify the aommissioners of hia deaire to make suoh drain through another's property or along
a public highway, and such asmmissioaerrrshall go upon the premises and oat as a jury of view zdz;srmine the plaoe where auah drain may

." (Underscoring ours.)Honorable &drew Z. Htakey, Paga 14

In pour letter you ataw that the natural twain
**or owsk**  **hart been**  used by the Ui@t)fot and that **thb** dietriot &Is wbblea swh Ratuuraldrain. fn our opinion, the @@usf~ an4 widening;*of the natural drain or ore& by 

### thu dfstrbt takeomob drain vut 

### of the 

### aleas of aatuml dralmand plaoej it into the oatafprg of Wreiim,
. . . made . . . by ray dbtrict
. , .” within Article 8x73, anb heaoe baaox&aa“the property of the dlatriot*, In the mlae mamler 6s My other drain or Bitch mad, or ovnetruot6a by tbb di6triot#.

%atural oondition or’theY..&andw is ursd to i&ioate thaB the avndition of lasndhas not busn changed by any sot of a human bein& Restatement, Torts, Seotionb &X5\, and 820.

Artiole ?3161* '8"ernoIi*s hnmtatetl Civil Statutea, provides a8 iollowa~

*~hr oommIesionsra are authorized and rs-. quired to build all nooessary bribpii8an6 oulvert6 aomm end over all oanelu, draini, dltohos, laterals and laves~~oonstruoted &sreunlZer**when7**
ever the sane oroetda oOunty or publie road, and ahan pay r0r stun0out ,orths drainage rub.*

Iu answer ‘tothe.seoonU quomtion in pprsgraI”” of your letter, you **are** respcdotZullyadvised that it B the opinion of thb deportment, under the faot8 etated **that** the drainage dietriot is liable for the replaoing of t&s now existing bridge.
Very truly ymars

ATTORMIEY**OXXXt.kL OP**  **‘ EWAS** 

APPROVECAPR 9. 1941

ATTORNEY GF.NERALOF TEXAS 

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