The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-11
AN ACT
No. SO !.

| To repeal act No. 5 Of the extra session OF
1878: to create n Board of State En-
gineers to define their powers and duties
to levy tax Of one mill for levee and
public improvement purposes 10 dlv TWICE
| for the appointment Of boards OF levee
| commissioners therefor, and to prescribe
their duties and powers; to authorize the
imposition of q district levee tax, not to
exceed five mills, on real estate and tax
able property; to vest the control Of
Ieyees and completed public works
throughout the State in police juries; and
to impose certain duties on the Governor
OF the State.
SECTION l. BE IL enacted by The Senate and
| House of Representatives. Of the State Of
| Louisiana IN, General Assembly Conpened,
| That an act, entitled "An act to create Board
| OF State Engineers" approved March 26, 1878,
| be and the same Is hereby repealed.
| SEC g. Be IL further enacted etc. That the
| Governor of the State Of Louisiana shall be
authorized to appoint three engineers, one OF
| whom shall be known as Chief Engineer, and
| two assistant engineers, whose term OF ONCE
shall be four years from the date OF their ap-
pointment. The Chief Engineer shall receive
| n salary of three hundred dollars per month,
| and the assistants two hundred and iifty dol
| lars each It shall be the duty OF said engi-
| neers to make careful survey OF water
courses and public works and levees OF the
State; said survey to be completed as soon
| after the subsistence OF high water as practi-
cable. in order that the contracts for work
| may be let out and commenced at the earliest
| moment possible They shall report to the
| Governor or the State the improvements
NECESSARY and the levees to be constructed,
which are OF prime Importance to the State at
large, and are beyond the means OF parochial
authorities. They shall, also, In said rep IT,
furnish estimates and specifications o. work
necessary to be done.
SEC, 3. BE IL further enacted, etc, That the
Governor of the State, upon receipt OF the re-
port Of the State Engineers, with estimates
| and specifications, IA provided by the pre-
ceding section, shall advertise for proposals
| to make such improvements and construct
| such eyees as are recommended by the said
| report and shall award the contracts to the
| lowest responsible bidders. who shall give
such bonds for the performance OF their con-
tracts as shall be required by the Governor,
| Dropided. that the total amount OF levee work
| contracted for under the provisions OF this
| act shall not exceed the amount OF the tax
hereinafter provided. And in the event this
| amount shall not be sufficient to pay Tor the
work recommended to be done by said en-
gineers, the Governor shall contract for such
work recommended by them as he shall con,
| slider OF the greatest Importance. The said
| engineers shall report TO the police IufieS OF
each parish in which surveys OF levees are
| made. the extent of repairs necessary to be
made by said police juries, with estimates
and specifications; and SHALL In addition to
| their duties as State engineers, make such
| SURVEYS and perform such services as may DE
required by parochial authorities In the re-
pair and construction of levees and other pub
| lie works.
SEC. 4. Be ii further enacted, ETC., That the
works executed under contract, made as
aforesaid, shall, when completed, be examined
and measured by the State Engineer IN
charge OF said work, who shall, II such work
has been executed according to contract
issue to the contractors his certificate. show
inc the amount OF work done according to
contract, and, upon presentation OF such GER
tificate. approved by the Governor, the Au-
ditor of Public Accounts shall draw his war
rant for payment thereof out OF the general
engineer fund or out Of the levee fund OF the
district ia which the work for which It is IS
sued NAV have been done, as called Tor by the
engineers certificate; and the State Treasurer
is hereby required to receive all such war.
rants from State tax collectors In settlement
OF their accounts for levee taxes.
SEC. 5. Be IL further enacted, etc, Inat Ihe
Board of State Engineers created under the
provisions Of this act shall take charge OF anc
preserve the records and archives q tne
present State Engineer Department Inen
saatles and all office and contingent ex'
pehses shall be paid monthly out OF the gene
IL engineer fund, on their own warrants
approved by the Governor, and the State
treasurer Is hereby required to receive al