The Natchitoches enterprise., 1918-10-10

@VV'
Senate Bill No. 143-By Mr.. smith
IQINT z ESOI LTTION

JOINT RESOLUTION
Submitting to the people OF the Stat9
of Louisiana, at the CongreSslontSoi
election to be held in November, lSlo:
an amendment to the Constitution or
the State authorizing corporations
formed or to be formed under the
laws of this state for the purpose Oh
constructing and operating Cahals Ior
irrigation and navigation as Wen a'
plants for the generation ana dlStIi-
button of hydro electric power 10
utilize the waters of the naVlgaDle
streams of this State, under Such
regulations as may be prescrlped py
the State Board Of Engineers. for such
purposes; as weN as TO use the de-
serted beds of former nA|ISable
streams that may remain tl* prop
erty of the State as reservoir" III
connection with such irrigation
projects; and providing that, al tle
end Of seventy (70) years from the
completion of any system of canals
and hydro electric plants by corp"f-
ati0ns aVailing themselves OF tue au-
thority 50 granted, their property and
plants shall become the property of
the state. to be operated by it for
pUDIC rcVenu" IN such manner a. the
LEGISLATURE shall direct; and pFOVid-
ing that none OF these provisions
shall be construed to apply to c& mails
IN existence on or prior to july l,
1915.
Whereas The rice interests of large
portions of this state hay" suffered
great losses for want Of fresh water;
and
Whereas If water can be furnish Cd
for the irrigation of rice lands from
uavigable streams of the STATE, huH-
dreds OF thousands of acres OF lard
now idle can be reclaimed and brourht
into cultivation, thus aGGinG to tHe
wealth and progperity of the state; and
Whereas. Canals can be construc I'd
so as to provide irrigation. navigation
and power and it is the States duty TO
encourage and promote The oIganiza-
tion of such concerns:
Section / BE if resolved by the Cen
eral Assembly of the, State of LoUisi-
ana. two-thirds Of all the mcmb, -
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 cleo
tion to BE- held on th,. ri"4t Tuesday af-
ter the first Monday in the month Of
November, jas. Is follows:
Corporations formed or to be formed
under the laws of this State for the
purpose of constructive and operating
canals for irrigation and nav aEi-c;,tiOn, Us
well as plants for the generation and
distribution of hydro-elcctric power,
shall have the right. under such regu-
laIions as shall be plc-ctih9d by the
State Board Of Engirl,,.l.. t., utilize for
such purposes the water. OF the navi-
gable streams of this State. as well as
the right to use as reservoirs or ft the
storing of water for such purposes the
deserted beds of former naVigable
qtreams which NAV bc the property II
thr state. Droyided that. at the end OF
seventy (70) wears from the completion
Of any system of canals and hydro
electric piants bv corporations arailine
fbemselves of the authority so granite d
their nronertv and plants shall become
{be nropertv of the state. TO be oper.
6ted by II for nuhlic revenue in such
monneT as the Legislature shall direct
and nroy,idad further that none of thes.
nrovisions shah he construed TO apply
10 canals in existence prior to July /
1o19
Sectio,, Pc if further resolved. etc
Tbat the official ballot to be used a
said election shall have printed there
on tho words. For the proposed
or,and,,ant to tho Constit,1tion of th,
Stata of Louisiana authorizing the US
of the waters of the nayigable tream
~ tba ST. under such r9ruIaiions a
tba St.ta Roard of Engineers shall pre-
scribe as well as the use of desert
rivaf bads the nropertv of the Stat
far roceryoir nurnoses in connectfo
| With such canals bv corporation
! formed or to be formed under the law
| ~ +his Stata. and nroyiding that at tn
| end of n vears from completion of In