The Text

The first and second sections of this article having been fully complied with, no tolls shall hereafter be imposed on persons or property transported on the canals, bat all boats navigating the canals, and the owners and masters thereof, shall be subject to such laws and regulations as have been or may hereafter be enacted concerning the navigation of the canals. The legislature shall annually, by equitable taxes, make provision for the expenses of the superintendence and repairs of the canals. The canal debt contracted under the section hereby amended, which on the first day of October, eighteen hundred and eighty, amounted to eight million nine hundred and eighty-two thousand two hundred dollars shall continue to be known as the “canal debt, under article seven, section three of the constitution ;”‘ and the sinking fund applicable to the payment thereof, together with the contributions to be made thereto, shall continue to be known as the “canal debt sinking fund,” and the principal and interest of said debt shall be met as provided in the fifth section of this article. All contracts for work or materials on any canals shall be made with the person who shall offer to do or provide the same at the lowest price with adequate security for their performance. No extra compensation shall be made to any contractor ; but if, from any unforeseen cause, the terms of any contract shall prove to be unjust and oppressive, the canal board may, upon the application of the contractor cancel such contract.