Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1921-08-06
REDUCTION IN
WATER CHARGE
7 BY 5. B. CANAL
Similar Steps Expected to be
Taken Soon By Other
Watering Districts


charges by irrigation companies
throughout the Valley, both the priv
ately owned plants and those public
Iy owned, Is expected to follow the
announcement by the directors of the
San Benito water improvement dis
trict that the charge per acre for wa
tering in that district is reduced from
So per acre to $1.50 per acre, effect
i've at once.
The San Benito district is said to
be in flourishing condition, and has
been enabled to pay off more than
$4,000 Of an indebtedness of $12O,-
900. which amount was expended
about eighteen months ago for I'M
provemepts to pumping plant and TO
the system generally.
The reductions, according to irri.
cation men. will be permitted large
" through the heavy reduction in the
price cf fuel oil, which is now cost
ing about s1.35 per barrel, deliver
ed, as compared with $3.25 barrel
. year ago.
"Acreage under cultivation on the
Sar Benito tract is expected to be al
most doubled this fall and winter as
4 result of the decision of the di
rectors," says the San Benito Light
which continues:
"The directors were unable to re
duce the flat rate because of ar
rangements made at the time of pur-
chase Of new pumps and machinery.
Everything points to a general
reduction next year of flat rates and
watering charges, according to tbs
directors who after yesterdays meet
Ing declared the financial condition
OF the district were i'm splendid con-
dition and the system the most mod
ern and efficient one in the Valley
"The. proposal to reduce watering
charges was made at the suggestion
Of p. R. Foley, president OF the
board. Other members went ove-
figures he had prepared and agreed
with him in the belief that the dis
trict would receive as much money
at $50 and acre watering as So, and
that the additional expense of water
ing twice the acreage would be neg
ligible ms compared to the increased
va.ue OF the fall and winter crops
for the San Benito district.
Reducing the water costs vii
benefit every farmer in the district,
we believe, by allowing him to raise
twice the acreage at the irrigation
expense previously decided upon, de-
clared Mr.. Foley.
Estimating that five waterings
will be required for a cabbage crop.
the grower with 20 acres viii effect a
saving of $50 for the season, as 4
result Of the order.
directors also sought way to re-
duce the flat rate Of 81 for the sec
ond half Of the current year and
which became due on July /. 1t de-
veloped, however, that this could not
be done without the agreement of
the machinery supply firms from
which the new pumps and engines
had been purchased. Tn edistrict was
able to make these purchases and i'm
prove the system by doubling the flat
rate for one year. the additional
funds going to cover the cost of the
improvements. In spite of the gener-
al depression the district has paid all
but $4,000 of the $4,000 which
the improvements cost. Payments
of the second installment of the flat
rate have been somewhat slow, but
the directors believe that the end of
the year viii find the entire indebt-
cdncss wiped out and the system ID
the best shape it has ever known.
Benefits of the new machinery
and the dredging of the main canals
are already making themselves felt,
Operation of the new pumps is re
ducing expenses and the district X
poets also to effect a tremendous
saving in oil during the comm,
twelve months. This time year ago
the district was paying 1926 a barrel
for fuel OF. TO-DAY it is cisting SO
and 20-car tank is filled and oil is
en- route to fill the cold storage tank
of eight car capacity. This, il is es.
timated will be sufficient TO run .hs
district for a wear"