The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-12-06
Acts of the Louisiana Legislature Re-
lating 10, the Construction OF
Locks in Bayou Lafourche-Dis-
tinctIy Provided That Dam Shall


OF Bayou Lafourche; to issue
notes, and appropriate land, and
exercise all other powers prop
er, or useful, or expedient, for
that purpose; to impose certain
duties upon the treasurer of the
state; and to provide for the sur
render OF said locks to the
United States government.
Whereas, owing to the conditions
peculiar. to Bayou Lafourche, leVees
along said bayou could afford securi-
ters from the Mississippi only if
built up to a size at present not sus-
ceptible even of approximate deter
minationr and certainly beyond the
means available for building levees;
and,
Whereas, the present leVees along
said bayou are insecure, and the
lives and property of the Inhabitants
along said bayou are endangered; and
not only this, but the maintaining of
even the present insecure and unre-
liable system of leVees along said
bayou is a drain on the levee funds
of the state such as cannot be per-
mitted to continue, if due regard is
to be paid to maintaining in efficient
condition the line of leyee along the
Mississippi; and,
Whereas, the necessity of closing
Bayou Lafourche by locks is recog-
nized by the engineers both Of the
state and of the national government,
and has had the sanction of the ap-
probation of congress, which has
made appropriations for surveys look
ing to that end.
Section /. Be it enacted by the
general assembly of the state OF
Louisiana, that the boards of COM
missioners of the Atchafalaya Basin
and Lafourehe Basin LeVee Districts
are hereby authorized TO place locks
at the head of Bayou fourch he aud
Tor said purpose are authorIzed to eg-
propriate lands, enter into contracts,
and exercise all other powers proper,
useful, or expedient, for carrying out
the purposes Of this act.
Sec. g.. Be it further enacted. etc,
that the expense of said work shall
be borne by said boards in the proper
tion OF one-haH by each; and that to
meet said expenses said boards are
authorized to issue separately their
notes, with such maturities and bear
ing such interest as may best suit
for the advantageous disposing Of
same; but that one of said notes of
each board shall be payable each
year, and none of them shall run
longer than twenty years, or be for
less than twenty thousand dollars, or
bear more than five per cent per an
mum interest. Before issuance said
notes shall be registered with the
treasurer of the state, and it shall
be the imperative duty of the treas
ureu of the state to set aside yearly
out of the revenues of said boards
an amount sufficient to meet said
notes as they shall mature, and said
notes shall be a preferred claim up-
on the revenues of said boards, next
after the claim of the bonds hereto
fore authorized to be issued by said
boards.
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, ETC.,
that all matters pertaining to the
construction, maintenance and man
agement pf said locks shall be con-
sidered by said boards in joint ses-
sion- but shall be voted on in sepa-
rate sessions of said boards, each
board deciding for itself; and that
in case of tie, the matter as to
which there is difference shall be
submitted to the governor for deci-
sion, whose decision shall be final.
Said joint meetings shall be held
at Donaldsonville, and shall be presid.
ed over by the presidents Of said
two boards alternately; and the min
utes thereof shall be kept by secre-
taries of said two boards separately,
and shall be read and signed before
the adjournment of each meeting.
The said boards shall at their first
meeting fix the dates of their regu-
lar meetings; and extraordinary meet
lngs may be called by the joint ac-
ton of the presidents of said boards,
Or by a resolution of either board.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, ETC.,
that this act shall go into effect
and the work on this project shall
be begun as soon as the federal au-
thorities shall have given their con-
sent to the doing of said work as
herein authorized; and that the rep
resentatiVes Of the state in congress
are urgently requested to use their
best endeavors to obtain such con-
sent at as early a date as possible.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, ETC.,
that at any time, whether before or
after completion, that congress may
provide for the taking charge of said
work by the federal authorities, the
said boards shall at once give UP the
same to the said authorities; with
power to said boards to make all
transfers. and execute all deeds and
effect all settlements, that may be
necessary in the premises; and that
such surrender and transfer shall
not In any manner impair the obliga.
tions Of said boards under any con
tract entered into in connection with
said work. Said work shall be subject
in the meantime, to the supervision o1
the said federal authorities, anSa.Ishall
be done in accordance with plans anf
specifications to be furnished, or ap-