As soon as may be after such petition shall be referred to said commissioners, or within such time as the court or chancellor may direct, the commissioners shall meet and go upon said lands and examine the same, and the lands over which the work is proposed to be constructed, and determine: first, the starting point, route, and termini of the proposed work, the location and size of the main ditch to be constructed in said drainage district, which in their opinion will successfully drain the said lands, and whether the drainage of the lands in such proposed drainage district is possible or not, provided that any ditch already constructed in such proposed drainage district may be used as a "main", or part of a main ditch, if found expedient and sufficient for the purposes of the district; second, the probable cost of same, including expenses and court costs; third, what land will be injured or damaged by the proposed work and the probable aggregate amount of damages such lands will sustain by reason of the laying out and construction of such ditch or ditches; fourth, what lands will be benefited by the construction of the proposed work, and whether the aggregate amount of benefits will equal or exceed the cost of the construction of such work. In the examination of such district and determination of the questions for said commissioners to determine, the said commissioners are authorized and empowered to employ an engineer to go with them upon the lands of said district and examine the same, make a map and profile thereof, and an estimate of the size and depth of the ditch or ditches required for main outlets for the drains of said lands, and the probable cost, and a profile thereof.
Structure Mississippi Code
Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control
Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners
§ 51-31-1. Powers of drainage districts
§ 51-31-5. General authority of drainage districts
§ 51-31-7. Exercise of authority
§ 51-31-9. Selection of county drainage commissioners
§ 51-31-11. Oath and bond of drainage commissioners
§ 51-31-13. Compensation of commissioners
§ 51-31-17. Secretary and treasurer of drainage districts
§ 51-31-19. Employment of counsel
§ 51-31-21. Creation of drainage districts on petition
§ 51-31-23. Jurisdiction of organization
§ 51-31-25. Notice of petition
§ 51-31-29. Hearing of petitions
§ 51-31-31. Landowners may sign petition at hearing
§ 51-31-33. Commissioners to estimate cost
§ 51-31-35. Proceedings on report of commissioners
§ 51-31-37. Disposition of report
§ 51-31-39. Form of court's order
§ 51-31-41. District declared organized
§ 51-31-43. Preliminary expenses
§ 51-31-47. Notice of assessments
§ 51-31-49. Hearing objections
§ 51-31-51. Assessments confirmed
§ 51-31-53. Payment of assessments
§ 51-31-55. Right of way agreements
§ 51-31-57. Notice of appraisement by commissioners
§ 51-31-59. Appraisement hearing
§ 51-31-61. Levy to provide estimated funds
§ 51-31-63. Tax levied to meet assessment
§ 51-31-65. Levy each year to meet bond obligations
§ 51-31-67. Reassessments in case of underestimates
§ 51-31-69. Sale of district bonds
§ 51-31-71. Contracts let to lowest bidder
§ 51-31-73. Commissioners to construct and maintain drains
§ 51-31-75. Lateral ditches to be laid out
§ 51-31-77. Actual damages recoverable
§ 51-31-79. Jurisdiction of drainage commissioners
§ 51-31-83. Commissioners may go on lands
§ 51-31-85. Ditches already constructed may be used
§ 51-31-87. Compensation for use of other district drains
§ 51-31-89. Passing railroads with canal
§ 51-31-91. Notice and damages
§ 51-31-93. Railroad may be assessed for benefits
§ 51-31-95. Drain may cross public road
§ 51-31-97. Landowners outside of district may use drains
§ 51-31-99. Reassessment if estimate deficient
§ 51-31-101. Penalty for injuring drains
§ 51-31-103. Benefit to county farm
§ 51-31-105. Jurisdiction of suits
§ 51-31-107. Master may hear and determine causes; report of findings to chancellor
§ 51-31-109. Expenses of chancellor and master taxed against district
§ 51-31-111. Additional bond issue
§ 51-31-113. Interest rate of additional bonds
§ 51-31-115. Notice of issue to be published
§ 51-31-117. Proceedings in rem
§ 51-31-119. Subdrainage districts authorized
§ 51-31-121. Notice of subdistrict proceedings
§ 51-31-123. Creation of subdistrict
§ 51-31-125. Subdistricts managed by drainage commissioners
§ 51-31-127. Separate financial account kept for subdrainage district
§ 51-31-129. Collection of taxes
§ 51-31-135. Record of tax sales
§ 51-31-137. Expiration of redemption period
§ 51-31-139. District placed under supervisors
§ 51-31-141. Procedure for districts to come under this chapter