Des Arc citizen., 1859-04-08
AN ACT to has'en the sale of Swamp and overfowed lands and ile censtiue- ton of Ieyees for their reclamation. eF

and oterf1oWed iandS ana iie ctnstfuc-
 ton of levees for tbeir reclamation. Y
 WHEREAS, The whole amount of money paid into the treasury from the sale of swamp and overfowed lands in the Helena district, for the last two years, is only Ss6 ,2s7, and in all the other districts only $l,o0l, while the contracts for making leyees and drains un- dertaken within the same period, amount ih the Helena district to several hundred thou sand dollars, and in the other districts to large sum, all of which must, accordingt to the existing evee law, he paid out of the proceeds of swamp land sales before any payment can be made upon contracts he eafter undertaken, by reason whereof it has become or soon will be impractic in the Helena district ard difficult in all the other districts 10 let out le- wee contracts even at high prices, and it is probable that the sale of swamp lands for cash will be still lower, as the prospect of their re- ciamation becomes more distant and uncertain; and whereas, the inhabitants of the swamp counties are from these causes in danger of long remaining exposed to a recurence of all he caIamitips which they have so lately suf- fered from the overfowing of the Mississippi river. Forremedy of all which by hastenirs the sale of said lands and providing for the speedy payment of levee contracts
 l.. Be il enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, That whoever shall hereafter contract and undertake to do any e- vee work let out under the direction of the Governor shall upon the full lcompletiohthere of, according to contract, be paid therefor, either in money or swamp or overft0wed land, aud upon the Governors certificate or order of payment being filed in the auditors office and numbered according to the last levee law itshall be the duty of the auditor to issue to such contractor warrant forfhe amount in said certificate or order specified, upon the treasury, if there be money therein applicable, according to the last leyee law to the payment thereof, but if there be not money enough there Fin the treasury application 10 fthel payment thereof, the auditor shall draw a warrant for the sum due to such contractor upon the swamp land agent Of the district in which such levee work shall have been done, and the last said warrant shall be received for the amount therein mentioned, as cash in pay mentf for any swamp lands, which such con- tractor may buy from the State, and which are situatedn said district. at the price here- tofore fixed thereon, after the same has been offered for sale at public auction and not sold thereat, or in payment for any land within said district, which such contractor may buy as the highest bidder therefor when the same is offered al public sale by said land agent ~
 s 2. Be it further enacted, That every con- tractor who has heretofore contracted or un- dertaken to make any leyee or drain laid off and let to contract, under the direction of the Governor, and who has or shall have compile ted the same according to contract, and who shall not have received payment therefor, be and he is hereby privileged and entitled at his election to be paid for the construction of said levee or drain in swamp and overtlowed
 lands at the price of one dollar per acre in
 lieu of being paid therefor in specie according to the terms of his contract and the pfovisi0ns of the evee law now in force, and upon any such contractor electing to be paid under tue provisions of this act, it shall be the duty of the auditor at any time after the Governor's Q rfle pf na hall hav hoo filed in the auditors office and numbered asre- qured by the law now insforce at the request ofsuci contractor, and upon his ret,E ming the auditors certificate to the auditor, if he has obtained any. to issue warrant in favor of such contractor for the sum due to him upon the swamp land agent of the district in which the levee or drain made by him is situated, and said swamp land agent shall receive the same when presented as payment to the full amount of the sum therein specified for any land which said contractor may purchase from the State, at one dollar per acre lying in said dis trict, and being subject to be entered or puf- chased by private entry, and having been pre- viously offered at public sale as provided by law.
 s 3. Be it further enacted, That this act
 shall not be so construed as to authorize the letting out of more contracts in any district than there will be confirmed swamp and over flowed land to pay for the same, after paying all PieFious cohttdctS III saiu utstTict I. Be it further enacted. That the Gov ernor be, and he is hereby empowered to make settlements with all contractors who lhave entered into contracts or shall hereafter enter into contracts for making any Ieyee or
 drain let out under his direction upon equi-
 table principles, and 1t is recommended that the Governor let out contracts in small quen- titles, and to be done in as short time as shall
 be consistent with the judicious prosecution 1 of the work. as l s 5. Be it further nacted, That this act be | in force from and after it's passage. ,s | Approved 2lst Feb, 1859.