Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1918-08-29

]
rict; and providing that none 0.
these provisions hall be construed
to apply to canals in existence OF
or prior to July /, 1918.
Whereas, The rice interests o.
large portions of this State have suf
fered great losses for want of fresl
water; and,
Whereas, If water can be furnished
for the irrigation Of rice lands from
navigable streams of the State, hun
dreds of thousands of acres of lanC
now idle can be reclaimed anC
brought into cultivation, thus adding
to the wealth and prosperity of the
State; and,
Whereas, Canals can be construct
ed so as to provide irrigation, naviga
ton and power, and it is the States
duty to encourage and promote the
organization of such concerns:
Section /. Be it resolved by the
General Assembly of the State Of
Louisiana, two-thirds of all the mem
bers elected to each House concur,
ring. that the following amendment
to the Constitution be submitted tt
the qualified electors of the State fol
their adoption or rejection at the
congressional election to be held or
the first Tuesday after the first Mon
day in the month of November, 1918
as follows:
Corporations formed or to be form.
ed under the laws of this State fol-
the purpose of constructing anC
operating canals for irrigation anc
navigation, as well as plants for the
generation and distribution of hydro
electric power, shall have the right
under such regulations as shall be
prescribed by the State Board Of En-
gineers, to utilize for such purposes
the waters of the navigable streams
Of this State, as well as the right t.
use as reservoirs or for the storing
of water for such purposes the de.
serted beds of former navigable
streams which may be the property OF
the State; provided that, at the enc
of seventy years GOV from the com.
pletion of any system of canals and
hydro-electric plants by corporations
availing themselves of the authority
so granted, their property and plants
shall become the property of the
State, to be operated by it for pub
lie revenue in such manner as the
legislature shall direct; and provid-
ed further that none of these pro-
visions shall be construed to apply
to canals in existence prior to July
1, 1918.
Section 2. Be it further resolved,
etc, That the official ballot to be used
at said election shall have printed
thereon the words: "For the proposed
amendment to the Constitution of
the State of Louisiana authorizing
the use of the waters of the navigable
streams of the State, under such reg
ulations as the State Board Of En-
gineers shall prescribe, as well as the
use OF deserted river beds the prop
erty of the State for reservoir pur-
poses 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 70
years from completion of the sys-
tens, such canals and hydro-electric
plants shall become the property of
the State to be operated for public
revenue" And the words Against
the proposed amendment to the Con
stitution of the State of Louisiana
authorizing the use of waters of the
navlgable streams of the State, und-
err such regulations as the State
Board of Engineers shall prescribe.
as well as the use of deserted river
beds the property Of the State of
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 70 years from completion of
the systems, such canals and hydro
electric plants shall become the prom
erty Of the State, to be operated for
public revenues" And each elector
shall indicate as provided in the gen
eral elections laws of the State
he votes for or against the
proposed amendment.
HEWITT B0UANCHAUD.
Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives.
FERNAND MOUTON.
Lieutenant Governor and President
Of the Senate.
Approved: July IL, 1918.
Il. G. PLEASANT.
Governor of the State of Louisiana
A true copy:
JAMES J. BAILEY,
Secretary of State.