PHILLIPS LEE GOLDSBOROUGH, ESQ., GOVERNOR. 991

as may be authorized by law; and the right of action is hereby
vested in the holder or holders of such, bond upon which default
has been made, authorizing them to institute suit against any
officer on his official bond for failure to perform any duty
imposed by the provisions of this act. The official bonds of the
tax collector and county treasurer shall be liable for the faith-
ful performance of the duties herein assigned them. Such
bonds may be increased by the Board of County Commissioners
at their discretion.

SEC. 23. Be it enacted, That the Board of Drainage Com-
missioners shall advertise for bids for the construction of the
improvement either as a whole or in parts to be let to the
lowest responsible bidder or bidders, the board shall have the
right to reject any or all bids and readvertise. They shall make
such terms for payment with the contractor as they deem proper,
and fix the amount of the contractor's bond which shall be given
in favor of the Board of Drainage Commissioners.

SEC. 24. Be it enacted, That whenever any improvement
constructed under this act is completed it shall be under the
control and supervision of the Board of Drainage Commis-
sioners. It shall be the duty of the said board to keep the levee,
ditch, drain or water course in good repair, and for this pur-
pose they may levy an assessment on the lands benefited by the
construction of such improvement in the same manner and in
the same proportion as the original assessments were made for
an amount not to exceed twenty-five per cent, of the original
assessment, and the fund that is collected shall be used for
repairing and maintaining the ditch, drain or water course in
perfect order. Provided, however, that if any repairs are made
necessary by the act or negligence of the owner of any land
through, which such improvement is constructed or by the act
or negligence of his agent or employee, or if the same is
caused by the cattle, hogs or other stock of said owner, employee
or agent, then the cost thereof shall be assessed and levied
against the lands of said owner alone, to be collected by proper
suit instituted by the Drainage Commissioners. It shall be
unlawful for any person to injure or damage or obstruct or
build any bridge, fence or floodgate in such a way as to injure
or damage any levee, ditch, drain or water course constructed
or improved under the provisions of this act, and any person
causing such injury shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof may be fined in any sum not exceeding twice
the damage or injury done or caused.