64 NOTES ON ADMINISTRATION OF WATER SUPPLY. 



a special concession from the Government. But the system of 

 management by associations, which corresponds closely with what 

 we should term " Irrigation Trusts," is in full operation and works 

 very satisfactorily as might be expected. The Italian Civil Code 

 not only sanctions voluntary associations for the management of 

 irrigation and drainage works and prescribes regulations for their 

 guidance, but it provides for the compulsory formation of 

 associations of this description for the public benefit when a 

 majority of the land-holders of a district so desires. It is 

 necessary to add that in cases of the latter description an 

 association can be formed only when the majority of the land- 

 holders who are in favour of it represents more than half of the 

 total interests involved. 



The procedure laid down for cases in which a supply of water 

 from a river or lake is required is, in the main, similar to that 

 adopted in France as will presently be explained. Applications 

 for such supplies have to be made to the Government through 

 the local authorities, and every application must state the nature 

 and extent of the concession asked for, explain the objects in 

 view and show their utility, and must be accompanied by plans 

 and sections in explanation and support of the claims advanced. 

 To deal with such proposals and with the management of the 

 water supply generally, there is a staff of highly trained hydraulic 

 engineers in the service of the Government. Projects for the 

 diversion of water from the rivers, or for drainage, or for the 

 alteration of existing works for irrigation or drainage purposes, 

 are referred to those engineers who have to inquire into not only 

 the engineering aspect of the proposed works, but also as to the 

 benefits likely to arise from them and the actual or possible 

 objections to their construction. The local authorities are also 

 called on to furnish their opinions. The information and opinions 

 thus obtained are considered by the Government, and if it be 

 decided to grant the concession asked for, the terms on which it 

 can be allowed are arranged in detail. 



The Cavour Canal, which has already been referred to, being a 

 national work in importance, magnitude, and cost, was to have 

 been constructed by Government ; but owing to the state of the 

 public finances, an advantageous offer made by a Company 

 composed chiefly of Englishmen to carry out the works was gladly 

 accepted. The terms of the concession were so favourable to the 

 Government that, as has been tersely stated by Moncrieff, the 

 canal has proved a source of wealth and prosperity to all connected 

 with it except the shareholders. The principal points in the 

 agreement were that the Company should, within a given period, 

 carry out a project the main features of which had already been 

 determined on for the construction of a canal from the River Po, 



