Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-03-19
FINAL DECREE
 FILED IN COURT Judge Elliott Stops Drain age Work, After Agree
 ment is Reached. ALL EXPENSES PAID Effort Will Be Made to Get New Drainage Law and Then Big
 District Will Be a Go.

the Taxpayers Protective Assoeia- tion and the officials of the Plum Bayou Drainage District after a protest had been filed against the drainage work planned in this coun- ty to reclaim 100000 acres of fine farm lands and after the Taxpayers Protective Association failed to se- cure an injunction in the chancery to stop the work, Judge Elliott yes- terday issued a decree practically winding up the affairs of the Dis trict until the next session of the Arkansas Legislature, at which time an effort will be made to either re- peal the present drainage law govern- ing the district, or to amend it so as to eliminate the objectionable fea- lures. The District commissioners incurred an expense of nearly $3O000 which will be paid by he property owners of the District, under the de- creee.
 Judge Elliott's decree follows:
 In the Jefferson Chancery Court l.. w. Clements, ct al, plaintiffs, vs Plum Bayou Drainage District, ct al, defendants
 Decree.
 Now on this day this cause com ing on to be heard, the plaintiff by Asa Oracle, Austin & Danaher, and White and Alexander, their solici- tors, and the defendants by w. F. Coleman, their solicitor, upon the complaint of the plaintiff, the testi- mony of witnesses taken ore tenus, the court being well and sufficiently advised in the premises, and both parties, plaintiff and defendant, con- senting thereto, doth consider, order, adjudge and decree as follows:
 That the indebtedness already in- cured by the defendant, Board of Directors of Plum Bayou Drainage District towards making the improve ments contemplated by Act No. 135 of the Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas for the year 1909, creating said district in the to- tai sum of $29,367.S2, consisting of the following items, to-wit:
 Simmons National Bank, $15,000.00 Parkes and White, $1O,949T; Maj T. c. Dabney, $550.00; Attorney s fee, $2,500.00; James Gould, $135.00; UW. J. Parkes, $133.O5; J. P. Walt & Bro. on contract rent, $100.00 Total $29,376.S2.
 for which said Board of Directors has issued it's notes or warrants, bear ing interest at the rate of six per cent, per annum until paid, and which notes or warrants are now out standing, be and the same is hereby declared lien upon the property in said drainage district to that extent as provided by the said Act creating said district.
 That in order to raise the neces- sary funds with which to pay off and liquidate said indebtedness already incurred, by said Board of Directors the defendant Board of Assessors is hereby directed to proceed to assess , the property of the district in the manner contemplated by the Act creating the same, to the end that when said assessment is properly made and extended by it against the lands, railroads, etc., in the district, as provided by law, said Board of Directors may levy such assessment of taxes as provided by said Act as will produce sufficient revenue to pay off and liquidate all such ex- penses, including also the cost of making such assessment and of levying and collecting said taxes. | That save and except the holding 1 of such meetings, the doing of such acts and the mourning of such ex- penses as may be necessary for car fying out and making effectual that portion of this decree and order as above set forth, said defendant, Board of Directors of the Plum Bayou Drainage District, and their success sors, be and are hereby restrained and enjoined from mourning any fur ther expenses, issuing any bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, or taking any steps whatsoever towards , the work of improvement contemp- lated by the Act creating said Dis trict and by said Board acting under the authority and directions of said Act of the General Assembly.
 JOHN M. ELLLOTT,
 March 1S, 1910. Chancellor.