220 LAND DRAINAGE 



through misunderstanding, or because of some misrep- 

 resentation. If fraud is discovered in the petition, or if 

 it has not been prepared in accordance with law, it must 

 be dismissed or denied. 



293. Objections must be heard. In all cases, objec- 

 tions to the proposed system must be heard and con- 

 sidered. Usually these objections may be offered only 

 by parties whose lands will be assessed in case the system 

 is constructed or who feel that the enterprise will work 

 injury to their lands. In Illinois, and probably other 

 states, no person who has signed a petition may offer 

 objections. In Illinois, the commissioners may administer 

 oath and listen to controversial evidence. 



294. The proposed district must be examined. If 

 the body or person to whom the petition is presented 

 favors the petition, provision is made for the examination 

 of the proposed district. Sometimes this is done directly 

 by the petitioned body and sometimes by an engineer 

 or commission appointed for the purpose. In this ex- 

 amination, changes may be made in the outline of the 

 district. Lands may be included not indicated in the 

 petition, and in certain instances, lands may be excluded 

 that were indicated in the petition. The proposed course 

 of the mains should be examined into and may be changed. 

 Usually a map of the district and an estimate of costs 

 are prepared; all of which must be submitted to the 

 deciding body or person. 



295. The organization of the district must be au- 

 thorized. With the results of the examination, map of 

 the district, and estimates of cost at hand, if it appears 

 that the expense of organizing the district and construct- 

 ing the system of drainage exceed the benefits to be de- 

 rived therefrom, the petition should be finally denied. If 



