Care of big salt basin.

sinking of a well in such a manner, of such depth, and at such point on such basin as shall, in their opinion, best subserve the interests of the state. Said well shall be tubed with iron tubing of sufficient thickness to effectually exclude all veins and flows of fresh water passed through in sinking the same. After the well has been completed, and it is demonstrated that brine of sufficient quantity, quality and strength has been secured to warrant the manufacture of the same into salt, said board are directed to procure the necessary pumps, pipes fixtures to pump said brine into the reservoirs and aqueducts, (constructed by them under the provisions of this act, and said board are hereby authorized to construct more reservoirs and aqueducts,) whenever, in their opinion, the best interests of the state shall demand the same; but if upon the completion of said well it is demonstrated that brine of sufficient quantity, quality and strength has not been secured to warrant the manufacture of the same into salt, said board shall discontinue its operations as contemplated in this act, and no further expenditure of funds shall be made by said board.

SEC. 5. When sufficient of said lands have been sold as aforesaid; After the completion of the well and the securing of brine of sufficient quantity, quality and strength to warrant its manufacture into salt. It shall be the duty of the board to direct the said commissioner to make such contract or contracts on the part and behalf of the state as may be necessary, subject to the approval of the board, for building

all dykes, and digging all ditches which may be necessary to prevent what is known as the big salt basin, situated on section twenty-one, in township number ten, north of range six, east of the sixth principal meridian, from being flooded with fresh water; and the said commissioner is hereby authorized to employ a suitable and skillful engineer and necessary assistance to examine the grounds, estimate the work, and ascertain and report what dykes and ditches are necessary for the purpose aforesaid, and the estimated cost of the same, and said board are authorized to audit and allow a reasonable compensation for the services of such engineer and his assistants.

brine to manu

SEC. 6. Whenever the fund arising from the Furnishing sale of said lands as aforesaid shall be sufficient, facturers after having made the necessary dykes and diches to prevent the basin aforesaid from being flooded with fresh water, the balance of said fund, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be expended under the direction of said board in constructing reservoirs and aqueducts and in procuring such pumps and pipes as said board shall determine to be necessary to pump the brine out which shall flow on 'said basin into the reservoirs and aqueducts, constructed as aforesaid, to the end of supplying manufacturers of salt with brine in the largest quantity and of the best quality.

cord of well.

SEC. 7. It shall be the duty of the board, Geological reduring the progress of the sinking of the well, to provide for keeping a correct geological record of all strata passed through, and for

Vouchers for expenses.

Develope Saline interests.

this purpose they are hereby authorized to employ a competent geologist to keep said record, and to pay him therefor, out of the saline fund, a reasonable compensation for such services not to exceed two hundred and fifty dollars.

SEC. 8. The board shall, from time to time, as the work progresses and the money is being expended by them in carrying out the provisions of this act, issue vouchers to the persons entitled to the same, and the auditor is hereby authorized and directed to draw his warrant on the treasurer against the saline fund of the state for the amount of said voucher; Provided, however. That in cases when work is being done or machinery furnished under contract, the board shall, in issuing the voucher, retain twenty per cent of the estimated amount of labor done or material or machinery furnished under said contract, and only issue a voucher for eighty per cent of the same, until the whole contract shall have been complied with and the work, material or machinery shall have been accepted by said board, and after such acceptance the the board shall issue a voucher for the whole balance remaining unpaid on said contract.

SEC. 9. The said board are hereby authorized and directed to enter into such contract or contracts and lease or leases, on the part of the state, with corporations, associations or individuals, for the manufacture of the brine, (pumped into the reservoirs and aqueducts aforesaid,) into salt, as will best secure the

manufacture of salt on the largest scale and insure the permanent development of the saline interests of the state of Nebraska, and for this purpose the said board are authorized to lease the party or parties entering into contracts with the state for the manufacture of salt, any and all saline lands owned by the state and lying contiguous or near to the reservoirs and aqueducts aforesaid, for the purpose of allowing said lessees and contractors to erect on said lands, buildings, arches, vats, fixtures and machinery necessary or convenient to have in the manufacture of salt. All of Conditions in said contracts for the manufacture of salt from said brine and the leases on said lands for erection of fixtures for the manufacture of the same, shall expire on the first day of January, A. D., 1920, and each of said contracts shall contain the following conditions and stipulations:

First. That the said lessees and parties entering into contracts with the state, shall pay into the saline fund of the state of Nebraska, in consideration of the privelege of manufacturing salt from the brine furnished by the state in the reservoirs and aqueducts aforesaid, one cent per bushel of seventy pounds on all salt manufactured during the continuance of such contract or lease.

Second. That the said contractors or lessees shall commence the manufacture of salt within ten days after notice from said board that there is brine in the aqueducts and reservoirs, of the required strength, ready for manufacture. Such contracts shall contain such provisions in

contracts.

regard to the strength of the brine to be manufactured as shall, in the opinion of the board, be consistent with the equitable rights of the contractors and the best interests of the state.

Third. The contractors and lessees, their heirs and assigns, at the expiration of said contracts and leases, shall, at their option, surrender up the demised premises and remove therefrom all buildings, vats, arches, machinery, fixtures, and property of every kind belonging to them, or demand in writing a renewal of their contracts and leases of the said board, and the state shall at its option, either renew said contracts and leases or take possession of all such buildings, vats, arches, machinery, fixtures and property, and pay to the contractors and lessees, their heirs and assigns, a just compensation therefor, the value to be determined by disinterested appraisement.

The appraisers thereof to be appointed by the said board of public lands and buildings.

Fourth: Each person, or if a firm or association, some member thereof, or if a corporation, the secretary thereof, shall make a return under oath to the commissioner of public lands and buildings, on the first day of August and December of each and every year during the continuance of the lease or contract, in such form as he may prescribe, the amount of salt manufactured by such person, firm, association, or corporation, not previously reported, and pay the rent or royalty hereinbefore provided for, and a failure on the part of the contractors or lessees to make such report and pay