The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-05-12
Proclamation
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE
STATE of TEXAS.

WHEREAS The Twenty-tfth legislature. at IL
regular biennal Session where convened on tie
18th day Of January, A 1897, passed the follow
aug Joint Res buttons, IL the manner resctiled
by the Constitution Of tbs State, proposing certain
amendments to the Constitution Of tins Stato To-
Wit.
Joint Resolution 70 amend Article s of the Cossts-
tuition OF tne State Of Texas by adding thereto
SECTION 20 as follows:
Section 20. In addition TO the
powers of taxation granted in the
foregoing sections it's ball be lawful
for the land owners of certain por-
tioDs CT Tex"s, as hereinafter provid-
ed to organize within that section of
Texas which lies west, northwest
and southwest Of the following
counties, viz Montague, Wise,
Parker. Hood, Someryell, Bosqae,
GoTyell. Bell, Williamson, Travis,
Blanco, Gillespie, CoDal. Caldwell,
Gonzales, Dewitt, Goliad, VIctoris
and Calhoun, irrigation districts
without regard to county lines. In
making provision for the cost of
construction of irrigation works with
in said territory it shall be lawful to
create an indebtedness of not ex.
ceeding fifteen dollars per acre to
rest as charge on and be secured
by lien on the irrigable land for
the use and beoeit of which said ir-
rigation works have been or may be
constructed. Within the term, cost
of construction, shall be included the
cost of riparian rights, dam sites
and reservoirs rights of way for canal
and laterals, aud other appurteuant
expenses of the construction of irriy
alton plants. 10 case of destruction
of the works, or any part thereof the
repair or rebuilding of the same
shall be construed to be within the
meaning of construction. To cover
khe cost of construction as above de-
daed, bonds may be issued by such
irrigation districts to run in time for
forty years or less, aud to bear in
terest at the rate of not more than
SIX per cent per snnum. interest pay
able annually, which bonds shall be
sold at not less than par. The
bonds shall be liquidated by
the levy and collection of tax
apon the irrigabIe lands within such
irrigation districts susceptible of ir
rigstioI from and BY the system of
irrigation works proposed. Such land
shall be taxed in proportion to acre
age and not in proportion to its
value. An annual tax shall be levied
and collected on such ir,igable lands
sufficient to pay the interest Of said
bonds and 30 create sinking fund
sufficient to liqnidate the bonds
above authorized. In addition to
the tax above provided for, there
shall be annually levied and collect
ed sufficient tax from the Iauds &C
tually receiving the water for irri-
CATION of sufficient amount to COW
er the ordinary cost of the main
tenaDce of the irrigation works, the
distribution of the water and sppur-
tenant charges ana the collection of
said tax. This charge shall be upon
8 basis of the amount of water con-
tracted for; provided. that this shall
net interfere with the right of any
land owDer TO demand his proper
tioDste part of the water on the
basis Of acreage. The taxes above
provided FOR shall, when assessed. be
secured by lien on the land as DOW
provided ty general law fer the Sc
eurity of State taxes, and when de
Hp9aent, shall be enforced as DOW
provided by general law for the col
lection of delinquent State taxes, bat
the lien securing the same shall be
subordinate to the lien securing To
payment &c Stale, county aud Euri-
cipsl taxes.
None of ihe foregoing provisions
Of this amendment shall ever be con-
strued to give authority to create
8 lien on Or tax il any manner any
lands so long as they shall belong to
the State, mr. after sale thereof shall
sly charge ever be created thereon
which shall take precedence over the
liens securing the balance of the pur
sbase money due the STA 2:
The Indebtedness for the construc'
zion of irrigation works authorized
under the provisions of this amend
nent shall be created only upon q
vote of majority OF he land owners
resident in the district proposed "a
be organized and whose lands re
susceptible of irrigation from and by
the eystsm of irrigation works pro
posed :onIy qualified v..ters under the
existing laws of Texas. being sneh
owaers of rural lands, within such
districts, shall have the right to vote
SIS aforesaid.
Any natural mr. artihcial Terson
Saving an interest in any Of the iTri
cattle lands in any such irrigation