The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-10-05
ACT NO. 25s.
Senate Bill No. 49, BY Mr. Smith.
JOINT RESOLUTION.

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
and operating canals for irrigation
and navigation. as we'll as plants for
the generation and distribution of
hydro-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 nayigable streams that may
remain the property of the State as
reservoirs in connection with such ir-
rigation projects; and providing that,
at the end of seventy (70) years from
the completion of any system of ca
mails and hydro-electric 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 i'm existence on or prior to July
1. 1918.
Whereas, The rice interests of large por-
tions 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 /. 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
amendment 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. 1915 as fol-
lows:
Corporations formed or to be formed
under the laws of this State for the pur-
pose 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 regulations as shall be
prescribed by the State Board of Engi-
neers, to utilize for such purposes the
waters of the navigable streams OF this
state, as well as the right to rse as reser-
purposes the deserted beds of former
navigable streams which may be the
property of the State: provided that, at
the end of seventy (7O) years from the
completion of any system Of canals and
hydro electric plants by corporations
avaing themselves of the authority so
granted, their property and plants shall
become the property of the State, to be
manner as the legislature shall direct:
and provided further that none of these
provisions shall be construed to apply to
easaf IN tie IS Ps9r to July 1918
That the official ballot to be used at said
election shall have printed thereon the
words: For the proposed amendment to
authorizing the use of the waters of the
navigable streams of the State, under
such regulations as the State Board of
Engineers shall prescribe as well as the
use of deserted river beds the property of
the state for reservoir purposes in connec-
ton with such canals, by corporations
formed or to be formed under the laws of
this State. and providing that at the end
of 20 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
to the Constitution of the
State of Louisiana authorizing the use of
the waters of the navigable streams of
the State under. such regulations as the
State Board of Engineers shall prescribe
as well as, the use of deserted river 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 provid-
ing that at the end of seventy (701 years
from completion of the systems, such ca
nails and hydro electric plants shall be-
come the property of the State, to be
operated for public revenues" And each
eiector shall indicate as provided in the
general election laws of the State whether
he votes for or against the proposed
FERNAND MOUTON,
Lieutenant Governor and President of the
Senate.
HEWITT BOUANCHAUD,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Approved: July IL, 1918.
r. G. PLEASANT,
. Governor of the State of Louisiana.
A true copy:
JAMES j. BAILEY,
Secretary of State.