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Show 74 INTERSTATE COMPACTS "Whereas, The Connecticut Kiver, together with its tributaries, is such a waterway as is defined in said Act of Congress above referred to, and the adequate and proper regulation of the destructive floods here- inbefore referred to upon said Connecticut River and its tributaries can best be accomplished by the mutual agreement and cooperation of the states hereinbefore named, by and through a joint or common agency; and "Wliereas, Under and by the terms of said Act of Congress, here- inbefore referred to, the entire cost of construction of the various projects for flood control therein defined is to be paid and discharged by the United States, and the signatory states hereto desire to avail themselves of the advantages and benefits accruing to them thereby and to be relieved of such cost of construction. "Now, therefore, The said Commonwealth of Massachusetts and States of Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont do hereby enter into the following compact, to wit: u ARTICLE I "The principal purposes of this compact are: "(a) To promote interstate comity among and between the signa- tory States; "(b) To provide adequate storage capacity for impounding the waters of the Connecticut River and its tributaries, designed primarily for the protection of life and property from floods. "(c) To provide a joint or common agency through which the sig- natory States, while promoting, protecting, and preserving to each the local interest and sovereignty of the respective signatory States, may more effectively cooperate m accomplishing the object of flood control in the basin of the Connecticut River and its tributaries, and, among other things: " (1) To acquire by lease from the States signatory hereto, or some of them, all lands, easements and rights-of-way necessary for the con- struction of the projects herein contemplated, without cost to the United States, except as provided in said Act of Congress hereinbefore referred to; "(2) To hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works; "(3) To maintain and operate all the works herein contemplated after completion in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War; "(4) To accept from the signatory States hereto, and from any other source, contributions of moneys as hereinafter set forth for the purposes herein set forth, including without limiting the same, funds for the acquisition of lands, easements, and rights-of-way, for the pay- ment of damages and for the operation and maintenance of said flood control reservoirs, and the expenses incidental thereto and to the functions of the Connecticut River Valley Flood Control Commission hereinafter created. "article ii "There is hereby created 'The Connecticut River Valley Flood Con- trol Commission', hereinafter referred to as the Commission, which shall consist of twelve commissioners, three of whom shall be residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; three of whom shall be resi- |