The Natchitoches enterprise., 1918-09-19
ACT NO 2Ha-


Senate Bill No. 143-By Htr. Satin.
JOINT RESOLCIlo.r
Submitting to the people yt size State
of Louisiana. at the Congressional
election to be held in November, 1878,
an amendment to the Constitution ot
the State authorizing corporations
formed or to be formed under the
laws of this State for the purpose OF
constructing and operating canals Tor |
irrigation and navigation, as well as
plants for the generation and distrl-
button Of hydro-electric power. 70
utilize the waters of the navi3able
streams of this State, under such
regulations as may be prescribed by
the State Board OF Engineers, for such
purposes as web as to use In" de-
serted beds of former uHFiEaple
streams that may remain the prop
erty of the State as RESERVOIRS III
connection with such irrigation
projects; and providing that, at the
end Of seventy (70) years from the
completion Of any system Of canals
and hydro electric plants by corpor-
atiOns availing themselves Of the au-
thority so granted their property and
plants shall become the property of
the State, to be operated by ii for
public revenue in such manner as the
Legislature shall direct; and provid-
ing that none of these provisions
shall be construed to apply to canals
1918.
Whereas, The rice interests Of large
portions of this State have suffered
great losses for want Of fresh water;
and
Whereas, If water can be furnished
for the irrigation Of rice lands from
naVigablc streams of the State, hun
dreds Of thousands of acres Of. land
now idle can be reclaimed 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
encourage and promote the organiza-
tlOn Of such concerns:
Section !. BE it resolved BY the Gen
eral Assembly of the State of Louisi-
ana, two-thirds OF all the members
elected to each House concurring, that
the following amendment TO the Con-
stitutiOn be submitted to the qualified
electors Of the State for their adoption
or rejection at the Congressional elec-
tiCn to b held on the first Tuesday aT-
ter the first Monday in the month of
November, 1918. as follows:
Corpora tions formed OF to be formed
under the laws OF this State for the
purpose Of constructing and operating
canals for irrigation and navigation, as
well as plants for the generation and
distribution of hydro electric power,
shall have the right, under such regu-
latiOns shall be prescribed by the
state IEOJlU
such purposes the waters of the naNl-
gable streams of this State, as well al
the right to use as reservoirs or for the
storing Of water for such purposes The
deserted beds Of former navigable
streams which may be the property Of
the STATE; provided that, at the end Of
seventy no years from the completion
Of any system of canals and hydro
electric plants by corporations araillng
themselves of tfc authority so granted,
their property and plants shall become
the property of the state, TO be Oper-
ated bv it for public revenue in such
manner as the Legislature shall direct;
and provided further that none of these
provisions shall be construed to apply
to canals in existence prior to July /,
1913.
Section q BE it further resolved, etc.
That the official ballot to he used at
said election shall have printed there
on the wordsa For the proposed
amendment to the Constitution of the
State of Louisiana authorizing the use
of the waters Of the nayiga BIC stfeaf9s
= n s6ssr II 5iE lSst NrlS cE
the State Board Of IEIis sssrs sfaH pre-
scribe, as welf as the use OF deserted
riVef beds the property Of the state
for reservoir purposes in connection
with such canals by corporations
formed or to be formed under the laws
of this State; and providing that at the
end Of 10 wears from completion OF the
systems, such canals and hydro electric
plants shall become the property OF
the State to be operated for public rev.
erue." And the words Against ths
proposed amendment to the Constitu-
ton of the State of Louisiana author
izing the use of the waters Of the nav
igabIe streams of the State, under such
regulations as the State Board Of En-
gineers shall prescribe, as wen as the
use of deserted river beds the property
of the State for reservoir purposes in
connection with such canals by corpor-
ations formed or to be formed
under the laws of this State;
and providing that at the end Of
20 Years from completion Of the .esys-
tens, such canals ana hydro-electric
plants shall become the property of the
state to be operated for public reve-
= nues" And each elector shall indicate
as provided in the general elections
laws Of the State wheth.r he votes for
or against the proposed amendment
FERNAND MOUTON,
Lieutenant Governor and President OF
the Senate.
HEWITT BOUANCHAUD,
Speaker of the House of Representa-
tiYeS
Approved: July II. 1918.
r. G.. PLEASANT.
Governor of the State Of Louisiana.
A true copy:
JAMES J. RAILEY,
Secretary. of State.
ACT NO. 271.