LAWS RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. 



the change is made, or any contract for that purpose entered into, the 

 commissioners shall give at least twenty days' notice of the time when 

 the question of change will be considered, and on the hearing^ all persons- 

 interested may present their views and wishes to the board, either by pe- 

 tition, remonstrance, or orally. 



SEC. 865. [Authority for straightening creeks or watercourses.] 

 The commissioners may cause any creek or water-course to be straightened: 

 or cleaned out for the protection of any bridge or road within their 

 control. 



SEC. 866. [Petition shall be first filed therefor, and what it shall, 

 contain.] Before the commissioners proceed to straighten or clean 

 out any creek or water-course, there must be filed with the county audi- 

 tor of 'such county a petition, signed by one or more tax-payers of the 

 county, setting forth the benefits to be derived from straightening or 

 cleaning out said creek or water-course, the starting point and ter- 

 minus, with a description of said creek or water-course, and an estimate 

 of costs to be incurred to complete the work, and the auditor shall, at 

 the next regular or called meeting of the commissioners, notify them of 

 the filing of the petition. 



SEC. 867. [Viewer shall be appointed, who shall report.] The 

 commissioners upon receiving said petition shall forthwith appoint a 

 competent engineer, resident of the county, who shall go upon the line- 

 of said creek or water-course, and examine the same .carefully, and make 

 his report to the county auditor in writing, stating whether he deems the- 

 straightening or cleaning out of said creek or water-course, will be bene- 

 ficial for the protection of any bridge, state, or county road, or other- 

 road in control of the commissioners, and if so an estimate of the amount 

 of money required to perform the same. 



SEC. 868. [If report favorable, work shall be advertised and let: 

 to the lowest bidder, who shall give bond.] At the first regular ses- 

 sion after receiving the report, if it recommends the straightening or 

 cleaning out of such creek or water-course, and the commissioners deem, 

 the same advisable, they shall advertise the letting of the work at least 

 twenty days, and let the same to the lowest responsible bidder, taking 

 from him a bond in a sum fixed by them, payable to the state, with 

 good sureties, for the performance of the work in a proper manner, and 1 

 within a time therein named ; but no bid shall be accepted that exceeds 1 

 the estimated cost in such report; and the commissioners may reject alt 

 bids. 



SEC. 869. [Costs and expenses shall be paid out of bridge 

 fund.] All costs of letting the work, and the expense of the work, 

 and other expenses in this, behalf, shall be paid out of tl c bridge fund 

 of the county, when the work is accepted and approved by the com- 

 missioners, and they direct the payment. 



STATISTICS. 



SEC. 1522. [Statistics to be gathered and returned by assessors.] 

 The assessor shall, annually, at the time of taking the lists of personal 

 property for taxation, require and take for each person, company and 

 corporation in his township or precinct the statements following, verified, 

 by oath, for the preceding year: 



