The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-10-26
ACT NO. o52-
Senate Bill No. 143. By Mr.. Smith.
JOINT RESOLUTION.

Seiidte Bill NO. l43. BY Mr.. Smith,
JOINT RESOLUTION.
submitting to the people of the State of
Louisiana, at the Congressional cleo
ton to be held in November, 1918, an
amendment to the Constitution of the
state authorizing corporations formed
or to be formed under the laws of this
State for the purpose of constructing
ana operating canals for irrigation
and navigation, as well as plants for
the generation and distribution of
hydfo-electric power, to utilize the
waters of the navigable streams of
this State, under such regulations as
may be prescribed by the State Board
OF Engineers, for such purposes: as
well as to use the deserted beds of
former navigable streams that NAV
remain the property of the State as
reservoirs in connection with such ir-
figation projects; and providing that
at the end of seventy (7O) years from
the completion of any system of ca
nails and hydro-eleetric plants by
corporations availing themselves of
the authority so granted, their prop
erty and plants shall become the
property of the State, to be operated
by it for public revenue in such man
ner as the legislature shall direct: and
providing that none of these pro-
visions shall be construed to apply to
canals in existence on or prior to July
/. 1918.
Whereas, The rice interests of large por-
tcns of this State have suffered great loss
for want of fresh water and,
whereas. If water can be furnished for
the irrigation of rice lands from navigable
streams of the State, hundreds of thou
sands OF acres of land now idle can be re-
claimed and brought into cultivation, thus
adding to the wealth and prosperity of
the State; and.
Whereas. Canals can be constructed so
as to provide irrigation, navigation and
power. and it is the States duty to en-
courage and promote the organization of
such concerns:
Section I. BE it resolved by the General
Assembly of the State of Louisiana. two
thirds of all the members elected to each
House concurring. that the following
to the Constitution be sub
mitted to the qualified electors of the
State for their adoption or rejection at
the congressional election to be held on
the first Tuesday after the first Monday
in the month of November, 1918 as fol-
lows:
under the laws of this State for the pur-
pose of constructing and operating canals
Tor irrigation and navigation, as well as
plants for the generation and distribution
Of hydro electric power, shall have the
right under such regulations as shah be
by the State Board of Engi-
neers, to utilize for such purposes the
waters of the navigable streams of this
Z, 70 xrralI .:.~1-k
voirs or for the storing of water for such
the deserted beds of former
navigable streams which may be the
property OF the State: provided that, at
completion of any system of canals and
eydro- electric plants by corporations
avaiing themselves of the authority so
granted. their property and plants shall
operated by it for public revenue in such
manner as the legislature shall direct:
md provided further that none of these |
provisions shall be construed to apply to |
annals in existence prior to July /, 1918.
Section 2. Be it further resolved etc, |
That the official ballot to be used at said |
election shall have printed thereon the |
he Constitution of the State of Louisiana |
iuthorlZing the use of the waters of the |
laylgable streams of the State, under !
luch regulations as the State Board of !
engineers shall prescribe, as well as the |
ise of deserted river beds the property of |
ne State for reservoir purposes in connec- |
ion with such canals, by corporations |
ormed or to be formed under the laws of I
his State; and providing that at the end |
II 10 years from completion of the sys-
ems. such canals and hydro electric |
slants shall become the property of the
state to be operated for public revenue" I
knd the words Against the proposed |
amendment to the Constitution of the |
state of Louisiana authorizing the use of i
he waters of the navigable streams of 4
he State, under such regulations as the /
tate Board of Engineers shall prescribe,
s well as the use of deserted river beds /
he property of the State for reservoir
purposes in connection with such canals, l.
y corporations formed or to be formed L
nder the laws of this state; and provid-
ng that at the end of seventy (701 years
rom completion of the systems, such ca
ais and hydro-electric plants shall be-
ONE 1.-THE property of the State, to be
perated for public revenues" And each
lector shall indicate as provided in the
eneral election laws of the State whether
e votes for or against the proposed
FERNAND MoUTON,
lieutenant Governor and President of the
Senate.
HEWITT BOUANCHAUD,
peaker of the House of Representatives !,
July IL, 1918
r. g. PLEASANT,
Governor of the State of Louisiana.
true copy:
JAMES J. BAILEY,
Secretary of State.
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