61 STAT.] 80rH CONG. , 1ST SESS.-CH. 382-JULY 30, 1947 Provided, however, That the prices to be paid for the lands owned by the Gila Valley Power District, of Arizona, and heretofore officially appraised at the direction of the Commissioner of Reclamation, for the existing facilities of said district and of the Mohawk Munici- pal Water Conservation District, of Arizona, heretofore officially appraised at his request and determined by him to be useful to said project, shall not, in the aggregate, exceed $380,000, and no portion thereof shall be paid until said districts have made arrangements satisfactory to the Secretary for the liquidation of their respective bonded, warrant, and other outstanding indebtedness. SEC. 3 . The Secretary is hereby authorized, to the extent, in the manner, and on such terms as he deems appropriate for the protection, development, or improvement of the Gila project, to sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of the public lands of the United States within said project, the lands acquired under this Act, and any improvements on any such lands and to lease the same during the presettlement period only, provided such lands shall be disposed of to actual settlers and farmers as soon as practicable; to establish town sites on such lands; and to dedicate portions of such lands for public purposes. Contracts for the sale of such lands shall be on a basis that, in the Secretary's judgment, will provide the return in a reasonable period of years of not less than the appraised value of the land and the improvements thereon or thereto. Such lands may be disposed of in farm units of such sizes as the Secretary determines to be adequate, taking into consideration the character of soil, topography, location with respect to the irrigation system, and such other factors as the Secretary deems relevant: Provided That the area disposed of to an individual shall, so far as practicable, not exceed one hundred and sixty acres. Sales to any individual shall be of not more than one farm unit. Any sums received by the United States from the disposi- tion of said lands and improvements shall be covered into the reclamation fund, and credited to construction costs. SEC. 4. Beginning at such date or dates and subject to such pro- visions and limitations as may be fixed or provided by regulations which the Secretary is hereby authorized to issue, any public lands within the Gila project and any lands acquired under this Act shall be, after disposition thereof by the United States by contract of sale and during the time such contract shall remain in effect, (i) subject to the provisions of the laws of the State of Arizona relating to the organization, government, and regulation of irrigation, electrical, power, and other similar districts, and (ii) subject to legal assess- ment or taxation by any such district and by said State or political subdivisions thereof, and to liens for such assessments and taxes and to all proceedings for the enforcement thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as privately owned lands: Provided, however, That the United States does not assume any obligation for amounts so assessed or taxed: And provided further That any proceedings to enforce said assessments or taxes shall be subject to any title then remaining in the United States, to any prior lien reserved to the United States for unpaid installments under land-sale contracts made under this Act, and to any obligation for any other charges, accrued or unaccrued, for special improvements, construction, or opera- tion and maintenance costs of said project. SEC. 5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the general repayment obligation of any organization which may hereafter enter into a contract with the United States covering the repayment of any portion of the costs of construction of the Gila project may be spread in annual installments over such reasonable period, not exceeding sixty years, as the Secretary may determine. For the purpose of Aggregate of prices. Limitation. Payment. Sale of public lands, etc. Contracts. Sales to Individuals. Application of State laws, etc. Enforcement pro- ceedings. Repayment obliga tion.
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