Chapter 288. For the continuance of construction work on the San Carlos Federal irrigation project in Arizona, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 288.— An Act For the continuance of construction work on the San Carlos Federal irrigation project in Arizona, and for other purposes. June 7, 1924.[[S. 966](/us/bill/68/s/966).][[Public, No. 210](/us/pl/68/210).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * That the SecretarySan Carlos Irrigation project, Ariz.Dam authorized across Canyon of Gila River, (or providing additional water supply to Pima Indians allotments, etc.*Ante*, p. 401. of the Interior, through the Indian Service, is hereby authorized to construct a dam across the Canyon of the Gila River near San Carlos, Arizona, as a part of the San Carlos irrigation project, as contemplated in the report of the chief engineer of the Indian irrigation service submitted to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs on November 1, 1915, at a limit of cost of $5,500,000, for the purpose, first, of providing water for the irrigation of lands allotted to Pima Indians on the Gila River Reservation, Arizona, now without an adequate supply of water and, second, for the irrigation of such other lands in public or private ownership, as in the opinion of the said Secretary, can be served with water impounded by said dam without diminishing the supply necessary for said Indian lands: *Provided*, That the total cost of the project shall be distributed*Proviso*.Equal distribution of costs among lands served. equally per acre among the lands in Indian ownership and the lands in public or private ownership that can be served from the waters impounded by said dam.
Sec. 2. That the construction charge assessed against the IndianConstruction charges reimbursable, etc. lands shall be reimbursable to the Treasury of the United States on a per acre basis under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, and there is hereby created a lienLien for, etc. against all such lands, which lien shall be recited in any patent issued therefor, prior to the reimbursement of the total amount chargeable against such land: *Provided*, That after said project is*Proviso*.Sale of unallotted irrigable Indian tends. completed, the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized, in his discretion, with the approval of the Pima Indians, to sell, at public auction, at not less than the appraised value thereof, such surplus lands not now allotted within said Gila River Indian Reservation as he may determine to be irrigable from return and drainage waters, the proceeds of such sales to be deposited in theDeposit of proceeds in part reimbursement for charges.
Treasury to reimburse the United States in part for the construction charge assessed against the Indian lands. Sec. 3. The Secretary of the Interior shall by public noticePublic announcement of water available, charges, etc. announce the date when water is available for lands in private ownership under the project, and the amount of the construction charge per irrigable acre against the same, which charge shall be 476Installment payment of charges.payable in annual installments, the first installment to be 5 per centum of the total charge and be due and payable on the 1st day of December of the third year following the date of said public notice, the remainder of the construction charge, with interest or deferred amounts from date of said public notice at 4 per centum per annum, to be amortized by payment on each December 1st thereafter of 5 per centum of said remainder until the obligation is *Proviso*.Operation, etc., charges payable annually in advance.paid in full: *Provided*, That the operation and maintenance charges on account of land in private ownership or of land in Indiar ownership operated under lease shall be paid annually in advance not later than March 1st, no charge being made for operation and Public notice when water available.maintenance for the first year after said public notice.
It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior to give such public notice when water is actually available for lands in private ownership. Sec. 4. Repayment contract required from irrigation district, before construction commenced. That no part of the sum provided for herein shall be expended for construction on account of any lands in private ownership until an appropriate repayment contract in accordance with the terms of this Act and, in form approved by the Secretary of the Interior, shall have been properly executed by a district organized under State law, embracing the lands in public or private ownership irrigable under the project, and the execution thereof shall have been confirmed by decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, Covenants, etc., to be included.which contract, among other things, shall contain an appraisal approved by the Secretary of the Interior, showing the present actual bona fide value of all such irrigable lands fixed without reference to the proposed construction of said San Carlos Dam, and shall provide that until one-half the construction charges against said lands shall have been fully paid, no sale, of any such lands shall be valid unless and until the purchase price involved in such Canceling of water rights on fraudulent representation, etc.sale is approved by the Secretary of the Interior, and shall also provide that upon proof of fraudulent representation as to the true consideration involved in any such sale, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to cancel the water right attaching to the land involved in such fraudulent sale; and all public lands irrigable under the project shall be entered subject to the conditions of this section *Proviso*.Conveyance of all irrigale lands in excess of 160 acres by individuate to United States.which shall be applied thereto: *Provided further*, That no part of any sum provided for herein shall be expended for construction on account of any lands in private ownership until all areas of land irrigable under the project and owned by any individual in excess of one hundred and sixty irrigable acres shall have been conveyed in fee to the United States free of encumbrance to again become a part of the public domain under a contract between the United States and the individual owner providing that the value as shown by said appraisal of the land so conveyed to the United States shall Disposal of, in farm units.be credited in reduction of the construction charge thereafter to be assessed against the land retained by such owner; and lands so conveyed to the United States shall be subject to disposition by the Secretary of the Interior in farm units at the appraised price, upon such terms and conditions as he may prescribe.
Sec. 5. Authority conferred Secretary of Interior for executing Act. The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to perform any and all acts and to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper for the purpose of carrying the *Post*, p. 1152.provisions of this Act into full force and effect; and the money hereby authorized to be appropriated shall be available for the acquiring of necessary right of way by purchase or judicial proceedings and for other purposes necessary in successfully prosecuting the work to complete the project.
Approved, June 7, 1924.