RURAL ENGINEERING. 483 



iiutbority to local officials iu the granting of rights of only local interest. This 

 division of power has not, however, been satisfactory, at least to the officials of 

 the CJeneral Government, and a commission was appointed in 1898 to recommend 

 changes in the existing law. This report shows that the reason assigned for 

 the appointment of the commission was the claim that the provincial officials 

 were not exercising the proper care in the granting of rights, especially for the 

 tleveloiiment of power, but were allowing i)()wer rights to get into the hands of 

 foreign cajiitalists, who were establishing a monopoly for the exploitation of 

 the real users of water. The proposed cure for this threatened monopoly of 

 natural resources was to give exclusive authority to grant such rights to the 

 General Government. This commission recounnended the creation by law of a 

 l)ermanent board to which all such applications should be referred. No such 

 law has been enacted, but a commission formed on the lines recommended has 

 been created by royal deci-ee, which, however, acts in an advisory capacity only. 



The Kingdom of Italy charges for water diverted from public streams, the 

 amount of the charges being fixed by law. The charges for water for drink- 

 ing and for irrigation without the obligation to return the waste water to the 

 stream is .$2.83 per cubic foot iter second per year, while the charge for the 

 same quantity with the obligation to return the waste water is but one-half as 

 great. Where it is impracticable to measure the water diverted the charge is 

 40 cts. per acre irrigated. The place of use of the water is not limited, the 

 lessee having the right to use the water or to sublet withoiit limit on the prices. 



In addition to controlling the streams the Government owns certain canals 

 which are leased as a whole, and other canals which are operated by the Gov- 

 ernment with leases to associations of water users or to individuals. 



Further aid to irrigation is, given by the Government contributing to the cost 

 of construction of works built by associations or individuals. This aid is con- 

 ditioned upon contributions by the provinces and communes where the works 

 are situated, these local contributions being not less than one-tenth of the sum 

 grante<l by the Government. The aid given by the kingdom is a part payment 

 of the interest on money borrowed to carry out the work. The total contri- 

 butif)n is usually .3 per cent of the estimated cost of the work annually for the 

 first ten years, 2 per cent per year for a second period of ten years, and 1 per 

 cent i)er year for a third period of ten years. This aid may be given to enlarge 

 or complete works as well as for new works. 



The Government further aids irrigation by granting loans from State banks. 

 The procedure for making these loans, the amount of interest to be charged, 

 and the security to be demanded are all fixed by the minister of finance. The 

 maximum period of loans is ten years, except where a sinking fund is provided, 

 when the maxinnim period is 2.^ years. 



Associations for the construction of irrigati(»n works through government aid 

 are provided for by law. The associations may be either voluntary or obliga- 

 tory. Obligatory associations are organized by the courts on the application 

 of a majority of those interested and are in fact similar to irrigation districts 

 or drainage districts in this country. 



The report describes the operation of a typical government canal and of two 

 association canals, illustrating the operation of these laws. 



Irrigation and drainag'e laws of Italy, K. P. Teele (U. S. Dcpt. A'jr., Office 

 IJ.riil. .s7''\. fiiil. l!Ki. /)/>. 100). — This bulletin gives the texts of laws which 

 govern the securing of rights to divert public water, the organization of the 

 associations for irrigation similar to our own irrigation districts, and govern- 

 ment aid to irrigation. It includes all the drainage laws except special acts 



