Southern shield., 1851-01-25

sonabe
 SEC. i. Be it further enacted, That the |payment for making said levees and drains shall be made in the lands reclaimed, or ih the proceeds of the sales thereof, at the price previously fixed upon said lands by the Commissioners.
 SEC. }. Be u further enacted, That the Commissioners shall have power to issue land scrip, representing quarter section tracts, in which, at his option, any con- tractor may deniand and receive, in lieu of the land in kind, payment for his work, which schrip shall be transferable by as- signment, and may be located upon any of the unsolicited rortion of said swamp and overfowed land,
 SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That when any Contractor shall have finished his work lr accordance with his contract, and shall have selected his land in payment. thereof, or located his scrip in lieu thereof, as above provided, he shall furnish the mum bers of such land to the Commissioners, and upon the certificate of the Commissioners, the Governor shall execute to such Contractor, or his assignee, deed for such land in due form of law.
 SEC. r Be n fu,ther enacted, That the Board of Commissioners shall have power to employ competent surveyor or engln- ger, to cooperate with them in distrcting and classifying such lands, and in determin- ing the locality, extent and dimensions of the levees and drains necessary to reclaim said lands and in supervising and passing upon the work of the several contractors.
 SEC. 8. Be H further enacted, That after the said Board of Commissioners shall fix the price of said lands in their present con- dition, taking into consideration their local ity and the value that will be added to said lands by their reclamation, they shall have power to sell any portion of the same for cash at not less than the price so fixed, but for as much higher price as may be obrain- ed; and shall furnish the purcaSer with certificate or certificates of purchase and payment, upon the presentation of which to the Governor, he shall execute deed therefor in due form of law, and the said Commissioners may apply the proceeds of such sales 10 retaining of said lands, as a. bove specified.
 SEC. 9. Be it further enacted That said Commissioners shall, on the first Monday of October of each year, render to the Governor an account of all their official transactions during the year, which the Governor shall communicate to the Gener- al Assembly, at its next subsequent session.
 SEC. 10. Be it further enacted That the compensation of the Surveyor or Engineer, shall be fixed by the Board of Commission CTS, to be paid in land or scrip, at his op- ton, by the Commissioners, as in the case of contractors and when he shall have se- lected his lands, or located his scrip, and reported the numbers thereof 10 the Gov ernor, he, upon the certificate of the Con- missionerS, shall execute 10 him, or his as- signee, a deed thereforin due form oflaW.
 SEC. II. Be ufunher enacted, That the Commissioners shall each receive, as a com pensaton for their services, 2.000 dollars per annum, to be paid in land or scrip and when they shall have selected their land, Ior located their scrip, and reported the numbers thereof to the Governor, he shall |execute deeds therefor to them, or their as sgnee in due form of law.
 SEC. l2. Be u further enacted, That the proposed levees shall be constructed, as near as practicable, taking into consdera- ton the caving of shores, to the bank of the rivers, or other water courses, and be |so located as to accomplish the largest a. mount of reclamation with the least injury and inconvenience to individuals.
 SEC. l3. Be it tu1her enacted, That all persons legally entitled, by any act of Con- gress heretofore passed, either in their own right or as the legal assignee of another, to rights of pre-empton on any ot said swamp or overfowed lands, or who shall reside on, or who shall have improved the same, shall have the exclusive right of pur- chase thereof to the extent of their claims, for the period of twelve months, from and after the date of the patents issued by the United States to this State, at the price previously fixed upon the same, not to ex- |ceed $l 9 per acre.
 SEC. 14. Be t further enacted, That to en- courage, by all just means, the progress and Icompleton of the reclamation, by offering Inducements to purchasers and contractors to take up said lands, that the swamp and overflowed lands shall be exempt from tax latlon for the term of ten years, or until Isaid lands are reclaimed
 SEC. l5. Be t further enacted, That said Commissioners shall proceed immediately to ascertain the swamp and overflowed
 lands granted to the State by the act of Congress, approved the 2Sth September, 1850, and shall report the same 10 the Gov ernor, on oath, by accurate lists, whose du- ty it shall be to file the same in the office of the Surveyor General and to enable said Commissioners to execute said duty speedi-