one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, entitled "An act to regulate the publication, binding, and distribution of the public documents of this Commonwealth," to which this is a supplement, there shall be printed and bound and furnished to the Legislative Quota for Legisla Reference Bureau, for exchange among other such bu- tive Reference Bu reaus in the country, fifty copies of each public document mentioned in said act, and of each public document hereafter ordered to be printed.

APPROVED-The 6th day of April, A. D. 1911.

JOHN K. TENER.

reau.

AN ACT

To enable counties to appropriate money or to issue bonds in aid of the construction, by public authority and control, of canals or waterways, suitable for steamships, steamboats, barges, or other vessels, and providing for the procedure in such cases, and to enter into contracts to that end with other counties, and other public authorities of this or other States of the United States.

Counties.
Canal or water

way.

Route.

barges,

etc.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That whenever a canal or a waterway of substantially definite route shall be authorized to be constructed by or under the authority, management and control of the Government of the United States or of this Commonwealth, either separately or jointly, or in co-operation with any State or States, to connect the Great Lakes or the ocean with navigable waters of this Commonwealth, by a route situate within, or partly within and partly without, the State, suitable for steamships, steamboats, suitable for barges, or other vessels, it shall be lawful for any steamships. county situate on the route thereof, or connected therewith by navigable waters or railroad or other highway of commerce in such manner that the construction of such canal or waterway will be for the general public benefit of the community of such county, to give aid by the appropriation of money or the issue Issue of bonds. of bonds as hereinafter set forth: Provided, That such canal or waterway shall be and remain exclusively a public enterprise, under public management, control and operation, free from the private managemert or interest or possession, in anywise, of any individual, company, corporation, association, or insti

Proviso.

tution: And provided further, That of any surplus of Proviso.

tolls, rates and charges accruing from the operation Surplus of tolls, of such canal or waterway, or the sale of water or rates, etc. water power, or from other income, remaining after payment of the cost of operation, maintenance and improvement, such county shall receive such proportionate part as its contribution bears to the total sum contributed for the construction of said canal or waterway.

Petition.

Contents of.

Prayer of petl-
tioners.

Section 2. It shall be lawful for one hundred or
more resident taxpayers and qualified voters of the
proper county to petition the court of quarter sessions
of such county, setting forth that the construction of
a canal or waterway of substantially definite route
has been authorized by law, and describing in a gen-
eral way such a route; and showing that the county
of the petitioners is situate on the said route, or is
connected therewith by navigable waters or railroad,
or other highway of commerce, as in such petition set
forth; and that, in the judgment of the petitioners,
the construction of such canal or waterway will be
for the general public benefit of the community of
the county of the petitioners; and that it is desirable
that the credit of the county be loaned for the pur-
pose of aiding the construction, in such manner as
may be provided by law, of such canal or waterway
and so that the same shall remain a public enterprise
and free from the private management or interest or
possession, in anywise, of any individual, company,
corporation, association, or institution; and that, for
the purpose aforesaid, it is desirable that the county
of the petitioners shall issue interest-bearing bonds
to the amount stated in such petition; and praying
the court to order an election to be held in the said
county, upon the question of the issue of said bonds
to the amount and for the purpose stated. The said
petition shall be verified by affidavit of at least five
of the petitioners; and on presentation thereof, if the
same shall appear to be in proper form, it shall be
filed; and thereupon the court shall fix a time for
the hearing of the same, not more than sixty days
Notice and publi- thereafter, and direct that notice of the same be given
to the county commissioners, and also to the public
generally by advertisement and publication in one or
more newspapers published in said county, in such
issues thereof as the court may direct. Any person
interested, including the county commissioners, may
file exceptions to said petition prior to the day fixed
for the hearing; and on such hearing any person in
interest may be heard, and the court shall decide
upon the truth of any matter set forth in the petition,
in case the same shall be disputed, save as to the
matters set forth upon the judgment of the petitioners
as to the public benefit involved and the desirability
of the issue of bonds as set forth, which matters shall
be deemed to depend upon the result of the election
prayed for; and if the court shall find that such peti-
tion and proceedings are regular and in conformity
with this act, and that the construction of a canal or
waterway of substantially definite route has been au-
thorized by authority of law, and that the county is
situated on such route, or is connected therewith
by navigable waters or railroad, or other highway of

Affidavit.

Hearing.

cation.

Exceptions.

Hearing.

tion.

commerce, as set forth, it shall order an election to Order for an elecbe held in the county, after notice of such election during at least thirty days by weekly advertisements in the newspapers, not exceeding three days, in such county. If the order shall be made more than thirty days and less than ninety days before the next regular election of municipal or State officers, such election shall be held at regular election; but, if not, then a Regular or special election shall be ordered, to be held after special. notice as aforesaid; and the county commissioners shall prepare separate ballots for such election, upon Ballots. which shall be printed in brief form a statement of the questions submitted, followed by the words "for a bond issue" or "against a bond issue;" and the county commissioners shall provide for the placing of said ballots at the polling places at or before the opening of the polls on the day fixed, and for separate boxes to receive the said ballots when voted. The said election shall be held at the regular polling-places and by the regular election officers, and, in case of the absence of any of them, their places shall be filled as provided by law. The said election shall be conducted during the hours provided for, and in accordance with the general election laws of the Commonwealth; and the return of the election shall be delivered to the Return of elecprothonotary of the court of common pleas of the county, and by him delivered to the judges of the court of common pleas, as provided by law, for computation; and the result thereof shall be verified by the proper officers of the court of common pleas to the court of quarter sessions having jurisdiction of the proceedings. The expense of the election shall be borne by the county. If it shall appear by the vote, when counted and certified as aforesaid, that the majority of the vote is in favor of the bond issue, the said court of quarter sessions shall enter a decree that Decree. the prayer of the petitioners shall be granted, and that the county commissioners shall prepare and cause to be issued in due conformity with the law the bonds of the county to the amount set forth in the petition, and for the purposes therein set forth; but if a majority of the electors shall vote against a bond Issue, the proceedings shall be dismissed, and the Dismissal of pro question of a bond issue for such purpose shall not again be submitted to a vote of the electors for a period of less than two years from the date of such election; and in receiving and counting, and in mak

tions.

Expenses.

ceedings.

ing a return of, the votes cast, the inspectors, judges, Return of vote. and clerks of such election shall be governed by the laws of this Commonwealth relating to municipal elections; and all the penalties of the said election laws for the violation thereof are hereby extended and shall apply to the voters, inspectors, judges, and clerks voting at or in attendance upon such election.

Issue of bonds.

Purpose of this act.

Co operation.

The county commissioners, upon the issuing of any bonds in pursuance of the terms of this act, shall deliver them to the proper State or Federal authority constructing said canal or waterway, to be realized upon at not less than par, and the proceeds thereof expended under such authority in the construction of such canal or waterway.

Section 3. This act contemplates, among other things, the construction of canals or waterways by means of funds contributed by counties interested or benefited, whether of this State or in cooperation with the counties of other States, or other public authorities. And for the purposes of cooperation and safeguarding the respective interests of the contributing counties, in the proportion of their respective contributions an1 in respect of the same, the respective county commissioners are hereby authorized to enter into such proper arrangements and agreements with the Secretary of War, or any other authority empow ered to act in the premises under any act of Congress, or act of the Legislature of this or any other State, as may be necessary for such purposes; and also with counties and other public authorities, either of this or other States, with a view to harmonious and efficient action, and proportionate contribution as nearly as may be arrived at or found to be practicable.

APPROVED-The 13th day of April, A. D. 1911.
JOHN K. TENER.

County agricul

AN ACT

Amending the first section of an act, approved the thirteenth day of June, Anno Domini one thousand nine hundred and seven, entitled "An act to authorize county commissioners, for the purpose of encouraging agriculture and the holding of county agricultural exhibitions, to pay annually one thousand dollars to the incorporated agricultural association, paying premiums on agricultural exhibits, holding an annual exhibition in the county; providing for the filing of sworn statement by the claimant or claimants with the county con missioners relative to said exhibition and providing for the repayment to the county by the State of the sum so paid," by changing from four to three the required number of days for holding such exhibitions.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the first section tural associations. of an act, approved the thirteenth day of June, Anno Domini one thousand nine hundred and seven, entitled "An act to authorize county commissioners, for the purpose of encouraging agriculture and the holding of county agricultural exhibitions, to pay annually one thousand dollars to the incorporated agricultural association, paying premiums on agricultural exhibits, holding an annual exhibition in the county; providing for the filing of sworn statement by the

claimant or claimants with the county commissioners relative to said exhibition; and providing for the repayment to the county by the State of the sum so paid," which reads as follows:--

"Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the board of county commissioners of the several counties of this Commonwealth, for the purpose of encouraging agriculture and the holding of annual exhibitions of farm products, are authorized and shall pay annually, by warrant drawn upon the county treasurer, the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) to the incorporated County Agricultural Association, paying premiums upon exhibits,-exclusive of premiums on trials of speed, holding in their county an annual agricultural exhibition, in the interests of stock-raising, grain, poultry, handiwork, fruits, dairy products, et cetera, for a period of not less than four consecutive days, upon the filing with the county commissioners of a sworn statement as provided for in section two of this act: Provided, That, in case there is more than one claimant in any one year for said fund, the county commissioners shall apportion and divide said one thousand dollars among the several claimants, according to the amount of premiums on agriculture, stock, fruit, and other exhibits, exclusive of premiums on speed, actually paid by each claimant at the last fair held by said claimant: Provided, Such claimants or associations shall each pay in premiums a sum equal to the said one thousand dollars; or, where two associations claim and receive five hundred dollars, they shall severally pay a like sum in premiums, or only receive, under this act, the sum they each and severally pay in premiums: Provided further, That all premiums paid under this act shall be only upon products of the county wherein such exhibition is held," is hereby amended so as to read:

sioners.

Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the board of County commiscounty commissioners of the several counties of this Commonwealth, for the purpose of encouraging agriculture and the holding of annual exhibitions of farm products, are authorized and shall pay annually, by warrant drawn upon the county treasurer, the sum

Annual exhibi

of one thousand dollars ($1,000) to the incorporated $1,000 annually. County Agricultural Association, paying premiums Premiums. upon exhibits,-exclusive of premiums on trials of speed, holding in their county an annual agricultural exhibition, in the interests of stock-raising, grain, ton. poultry, handiwork, fruits, dairy products, et cetera, for a period of not less than three consecutive days, upon the filing with the county commissioners of a sworn statement as provided for in section two of this act: Provided, That in case there is more than one claimant in any one year for said fund, the county commissioners shall apportion and divide said one

Proviso.

Division of bonus.