Arizona republican., 1915-06-13

to be sold if the commissioner be- lieves it will not be to the best in- terest of the state to sell the same. It is made the duty of the commis sioneI, however, to advertise for sale and endeavor to sell the county bond lands consisting of one million acres
 as speedily as the interest of the state will permit and the occupants lof agricultural school lands having Improvements thereon, are given tie right to compel a sale of such lands. The minimum price fixed for lands. is $500 per acre for the county bond
 lands, $500 per acre for lands not included in such grant and $25.00 Der acre for lands susceptible of il.- riSation from my established irriga- ton project. The terms of sale are the same in the two original bills
 that is 1 per cent of the purchase
 price cash. per cent upon cXecu- ton and delivery of certificate of sale and the balance in thirty eight annual payments, with interest on the whole amount unpaid at the rate of D per cent per annum. Improve
 ments -on lands sold must be paid
 within thirty days from the date of sale. except whert the commissioner
 is of the opinion that the sum re- ouired to be paid for such improve
 ments is so great that competitive
 bidding will be prevented. in which case the state may advance to the
 purchaser not to exceed 75 per cent of the cost of such improvements which must be paid back to the state with per cent interest in five years l. IS also provided that any occupant 'of school lands, Nho is in arrears as to rent, or who has occupied such land without paying rent for same, shall have deducted from the amount awarded to him for improvements, d sum sufficient to pay such back rent and interest thereon at the rate of Is per cent per annum 1t is also provided that lands sold shall be taxed tc the purcha ser and in case of his failure to pay such taxes the same shall be paic by the state and charged up against the purchaser and in the same manner the pay ment of irrigation charges is taken care of
 The commissioner is given power and authority to administer the prod ucts of lands including timber and to make rules and regulations there fore conformably as nearly as may be 70 the rules and regulations of inc forest service of the United States Department of Agriculture. Provision is also given for prospect ing of mineral lands belonging to the state.
 The commissioner is given author ity to grant rights of way or sites for reservoirs over state lands. In case such rights of way or sites amount to a disposition of a fee of the surface of the lands the pro- cedure in regard to the sale of lands must be followed.
 The provisions in the original hotis.. bill concerning trespass of state lands. have been greatly modified and simplified. but with adequate pro- lection to the state.
 The commissioner is given author itr to conduct investigations and eX- Ieriments on lands belonging to the state for the purpose of determining such factS relative to the water sup ply as may be nec essary to determine the best use to which said land can be put and is also given the power to make preliminary investigations for the reclamation of lands for the storage of flood water or otherwise and report the same to the legislat- nre. and is also given the power to make and file water locations and