The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-05-22
Proclamation
BY THE GOVERNOR of THE
STATE of TEXAS.


BY the Constitution of this State proposing certain
amendments tc the constitution Of this Stato to-
Wit:
JOINT Resolution 10 amend article of the Coasti-
tuition Of the State 81 Texas by adding thereto
section 70, as follows:
Section 20. In addition to the
powers of taxation granted in the
foregoing sections its hall be lawful
sr the land owners of cerIeiu po-
tions Of pexas. as hereinafter provid
ed to organize within that section of
Texas which lies west, northwest
AMI southwest of the following
counties wig Montague, Wise.
Parker. Hood, SomervelI, Bosq1e,
CnryelI. Bell, Williamson, Travis,
BIanco, Gillespie, ComaI. Caldwell,
Gonzales. Dewitt, Goliad, Victoria
and Calhoun. irrigation districts
without regard to county lines III
making provision for the cost of
construction of irrigation works with
Ia said territory il shall be- lawful to
create an Indebtedness of not ex-
seeding fifteen dollars per acre to
rest as charge on and be secured
by lien on the irrigable land for
the use aud benefit 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, and other appurtenaht
expenses of the construction of irrig
alton plants. In 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
the cost of construction as above de-
Sued, 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 a tax
upon the irrigable lands within such
irrigation districts susceptible of ir-
sigsticn from and by the system oil
irrigation works proposed. Such land
shall be taxed in proportion ID acre
age and not in proportioa to its
value. An annual tax shall be levied
Snd collected on such irrigsble lands
sufficient to pay the interest of said
bonds and TO create a sinking fund
sufficient to liquidate the bonds
above authorized. In addition to
the tax above provided for. there
shall be annually levied and collect
ed sufficient tax from the lands &C
fualIy receiving the water for irri
CATION of sufficient amount to COW
er the ordinary cost of the main
fenaUce of the irrigation works, the
distribution of the water and appnr-
seDaut charges and the collection o
said tax. This charge shall be upon
q basis of the smount of water con
sraeted for provided, that this shall
ant interfere with the right of any
land owner to demand his proper
sionate part of the water on the
basis of acreage. The taxes abov'
provided for shall, when assessed, be
seenred by fen on tire land as nnv
proviied by general law f IT the 50.
Cvlrity of State taxes, and when de
huauent, shaii be enforced as nov
provided nv general law for the col
lection OF Delinquent State taxes, bu
the lien securing the same shall b.
subordinate to the lien securing tin
payment OF State, county and Ennl
cipal tsxss.
Noue of the foregoing provisions
cf this amendment shall ever be con
strDed to give authority to Greats
a lien on or tax iG any manner an,
lands SO long as they shall belong Il
the State, nor aftt sale thereof shall
any charge ever be created Thereon
which shall take precedence over to,
liens securing the balance of the pu
chase money due the Sac
The Indebtedness for the coGstruc
tfon of irrigation works authorized
ozder the provisions of this amend
mens shall be created only npoa
vote of msjar'ty IF the land owner
resident in the district proposed t,
Be organized and whose lands r.
susceptible OF irrigation from aud b.
the cyst. m of irrigation works pro
pos4d:oniy qualified tiers under th'
existing laws of Texas. being sncl
owners of rural lands, within sucI
dis, ricts. shall have the right to vot'
rs aforesaid.
Anv Uasunl or ARTIFICIAL IersoI
having an interes; in any of the irri
guile lands in any such irrigation
district shall have tine right at al.
ame w:shiu ninety days after the vot'
-. hna. I..can -,.l M