DRAINAGE LAWS 221 



the benefits to be derived exceed such expenses, the peti- 

 tion should be granted, and the legal organization of the 

 district authorized, and all parties whose property will 

 be taxed in the execution of the work must be legally 

 notified. 



296. The work of construction. The execution of 

 the work of construction must be done under authority. 

 It includes the perfecting of the plans for the system of 

 drainage; the construction work, directly or through 

 contractors; the levying and collecting of taxes to pay 

 for the same ; sometimes the borrowing of money and the 

 issuing of bonds for the same; the auditing and the au- 

 thorizing of the paying of bills, or certain parts of them as 

 they become due. After the work is completed, the re- 

 pair and up-keep of the system must be looked after. A 

 district drainage enterprise is sometimes both extensive 

 and expensive, so that it is impractical to meet the ex- 

 pense by a single tax levy. In such a case, the payment 

 may extend over a number of years, and since the work 

 must be paid for as rapidly as completed, it becomes 

 necessary, in such cases, to borrow money and issue a 

 bond, or bonds, for the payment of the same. In Michigan 

 all of this work is looked after by the county drain com- 

 missioner. In Illinois three drainage commissioners are 

 elected for this purpose. In Iowa, the county board of 

 supervisors directs the finances and employs an engineer to 

 supervise the work. In Minnesota the county board directs 

 the finances, while the construction is supervised by an 

 engineer appointed by the county board or district judge. 

 The later supervision and up-keep is in the hands of the 

 county drain commissioner in Michigan; of a board of 

 three commissioners elected by the district in Illinois ; by 

 the board of county supervisors in Minnesota. 



