NOTES ON ADMINISTRATION OF WATER SUPPLY. 65 



that this canal should be capable of discharging a stated quantity 

 of water, and that its main object should be to augment the supply 

 in several existing canals. The Company was to manage and 

 maintain the works and to receive the revenue from them for 

 50 years, after which period it was to hand them over in good 

 repair to the Government. The charges for water made by the 

 Company were not to exceed rates which had obtained the 

 approval of the Government ; but the latter guaranteed a return 

 of 6 per cent, on what it recognized as the capital of the Company. 

 It is manifest that an agreement of this description carries with 

 it a certain advantage free from risk to the Government which 

 makes it, and to the land-holders on whose behalf it is made, 

 while the risk all falls on the Company which undertakes to 

 construct and maintain the works. 



In France, questions relating to irrigation and navigation have 

 to be considered together when dealing with the rivers. The 

 system of inland navigation in that country has long been one of 

 the most important in the World, and holds a very prominent 

 position in promoting trade by reducing the cost of carriage. The 

 extent to which the value of the rivers and canals of France are 

 appreciated may be judged from the fact that not many years ago 

 the sum of forty millions sterling was voted for their improvement 

 and development. 



Although irrigation is practised in almost all parts of France 

 and over extensive areas, and although its general effect is to 

 raise the value of land by 50 per cent., still it is not of such vital 

 importance as in Spain, nor is it even so much of a necessity as 

 in Italy. Hence it is not surprising that the Laws of France 

 relating to Water Supply, having to deal with all the requirements 

 of both navigation and irrigation, are more complicated than 

 those of Spain or Italy. But the principle of the State right to 

 streams is made sufficiently clear, and the rights of the public are 

 so denned as to prevent the obstruction of useful works. The 

 Code of Napoleon declares that rivers and streams which will 

 carry floats or rafts are considered as dependencies on the public 

 domain, and a subsequent enactment specifies the streams and 

 parts of streams which were to be deemed navigable or raftable. 

 In cases where rights to supplies of water had been acquired 

 previous to the passing of these enactments, compensation was 

 allowed to the owners of these rights. Subject to such conditions, 

 the Government also reserves to itself the right to declare streams 

 or parts of streams navigable or raftable in addition to those 

 already proclaimed. 



When any private individuals or syndicates propose to obtain 

 a supply of water from a river, the matter has to be referred to- 

 the prefect of the district in which the supply is required. 



E-6 July, 1887. 



