Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-05-11
Secretary Agricul-
ture'S Attention
Brought TOBad
Car Shortage
Especial to The Herald.)

lcueTai government VIII d>Slst inc shippti>
of the Lower Rio Grandc Valley in the
matter of securing ears To ship Valley
products; if the federal government will
furnish seed where needed in quantities TO
make car shipments; and if the federal
government will exempt the young men en-
gagged in farming from service at the front,
the Lower Rio Grande Valley will be a con
siderable factor in helping to feed the
ton.
Officers of the Cameron County Water
Improvement District No. ?, San Benito,
have written to Secretary of Agriculture
his attention to the need of the Valley for
the assistance as outlined above, and also
informing him that there in the lower Val
lev il section of country that produces
something every day in the year.
The following j. a copy Of the letter:
"Regarding increased food supply and
it> great agitation. at relating 10 the Low
or Rio Grande Valley. and more especially
San Benito which j. the greatest produc
inc section of the Valley. ! am writing to
call your attention to the fact that the Val
ley can be made To produce more food and
feed stuff per acre than any other part
of Texas. because of its climatic condi-
tion. iis irrigation, and it extremely fer
tile soil There j. not day of the year
but that something j. being marketed III
the Valley. Ii produces more tonnage of
almost everything il grows, and il grows
a greater variety of food and feed stuff.
cattle. hogs, poultry, eggs, etc., than any
other section. Ii irrigation facilities
makes il crops more certain than other
sections Failure of crops are scarcely
possible. here where irrigation j. obtain
able.
ave feel sure these advantages will APP
peal To Uncle Sam and that he will recog-
nize the adyisabilty of conserving his in
tcrests in these trying times:
"1) By assisting in securing ears for
shipment of products. Today we have
about 1000 acres of beans at San Benito
Inability TO ship has forced price below
cost of production to farmers and they
are leaving them in the fields. They are
excellent in quality.
"(2) BY furnishing seed where needed
in Quantities sufficient 10 make ear ship
ments
"(3) BY exempting our young men en-
gagged in farming from service at the front
"As regards our own section, San Bcnito.
the above applies especially. We have
Just formed municipal district and taken
over the irrigation system of the San Be
nito Land Water Company from the
hands of the receiver. The system was IN
n deplorably run down condition. We
have issued S600.0O0 in bonds and are
spending it in repairs and construction
work and rapidly increasing the efficiency
of the canal system in the matter Of irri-
cation.
ave have well organized force of men
doing this work and since we are told that
lii j. a essential and patriotic, to supply
bullets, biscuits. bacon and beans. n blood
in these times, we respectfully submit that
the operating force of the Cameron County
Water Improvement District Number Two,
and the farmers on the San Benito tract.
as well "a those operating canals and
working on farms in the entire Valley, be
not conscripted. but bc left to produce food
and feed stuff until such time a they are
actually needed at the front.
"P II. FOLEY,
'.President
"ALBA HEYWOOD.
'Secretary.
ORCHARD MITCHELL,
"Director.
u. l.. LANDRUM,
"Director.
"N. r. SIIAFER,
ssnircatnr"