§ 156-54. Jurisdiction to establish districts. - North Carolina Statutes

SUBCHAPTER III. DRAINAGEDISTRICTS.

Article 5.

Establishment of Districts.

§ 156‑54.  Jurisdiction to establish districts.

The clerk of the superior court of any county in the State of NorthCarolina shall have jurisdiction, power and authority to establish levee ordrainage districts either wholly or partly located in his county, and whichshall constitute a political subdivision of the State, and to locate andestablish levees, drains or canals, and cause to be constructed, straightened,widened or deepened, any ditch, drain or watercourse, and to build levees orembankments and erect tidal gates and pumping plants for the purpose ofdraining and reclaiming wet, swamp or overflowed land; and it is herebydeclared that the drainage of swamplands and the drainage of surface water fromagricultural lands and the reclamation of tidal marshes shall be considered apublic use and benefit and conducive to the public health, convenience andwelfare, and that the districts heretofore and hereafter created under the lawshall be and constitute political subdivisions of the State, with authority toprovide by law to levy taxes and assessments for the construction andmaintenance of said public works. (1909, c. 442, s. 1; C.S., s. 5312; 1921, c. 7.)