San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-09
Awaits Senatorial Commit
tee With Facts to Re-
flute Helm Charges.
THREE CROPS A YEAR
Land at $65 Fifteen Years
Ago Increases to $4,000
Per Acre.

Brownsville. Tex, March S.-Hav-
ing established the record of produc-
ing the greatest tonnage of agricul-
tural products Of any equal area in
the United States, the Lower Rio
Grande Valley farmers are awaiting
the coming of the senate investigation
committee. organized in conformity
with the Helm resolution, with full
confidence that before the members of
that committee leave the valley they
will admit that Senator Helfin's char
acterization of the lower Rio Grande
Delta as wholly unfit for profitable
farming operations" was far from the
truth. The Valley is not greatly in
terested in Senator Heflin's attack up.
on the land companies that is gen
orally regarded as the political phase
of the matter-but the average resi-
dent of the lower border is extremely
indignant over Heflin's allegations
that the Lower Rio Grande country
is wild. semi-arid, and about one
half subject TO overflow and wholly
unfit for profitable farming opera
tons"
According to such information as
is available from the national capital
the senate committee, after complet-
ings hearings in Washington. will go
TO Kansas City. where additional tes-
timony will be secured, after which it
will come to the Valley, arriving the
latter part Of March or early in April.
Every Valley community is expectant-
ly awaiting them, with the intention
of facilitating their investigation as
much as possible, and incidentally
proving to the committee members that
the Rio Grande Valley is anything
but an arid waste-and there is no
equal acreage in the United States
that can produce more abundant
crops or which will return greater
profits 10 the farmer who cultivates
his lard properly.
Full Value in Every Acre.
Senator Helm apparently was hor-
rified when he informed the United
States Senate thai Valley land was
selling from 5000 to $1,000 per acre,
but he neglected TO include in his state
ment the fact that Valley lands. when
properly handled. produce from two
TO three crops per year: that in point
of production and profit per acre il
is worth from three to four times as
much the average farm lands of any
section of the United States.
That the actual value of Valley
land is becoming generally recognized
is attested by tie fact that development
the last two years throughout all
parts of the Valley has passed all
records. and that every available acre
of Valley land is under cultivation
this year and thousands of additional
acres. both in the irrigated and dry
farming sections, are being cleared.
Homeseekers are coming into the Val
ley at the rate of over 1900 per month
as the records of the Gulf Coast lines
will show. and Inc Valley is one of
the few sections of the United States
which in the last three years can show
a steady increase in the value OF
farm lands.
Land at $4,000 Per Acre.
How the value of Valley land can
be increased by intelligent operations
was demonstrated last week when the
Eltweed Pomeroy home place. two
miles west Of Weslaco, was sold for
SIP, 900, or approximately $4,000 per
acre. to Barnet J.. Hoffman, a Kan
sas City contractor. Mr.. Pomeroy
came to the Valley IL years ago, and
paid S65 per acre for the land. He
was one of the pioneers in the citrus
industry, and the entire tract was
planted to citrus trees. the trees on
part of the acreage being IL years old.
For the first four years Mr.. Pomeroy
lost money. and then his trees began
bearing and since that time. they have
been returning big profit each year.
and the value OF his land has steadily
increased.
II is doubtful if the senate investi-
eating committee can find any other
mart of the United States which can
equal this record. In most agricul-
tural sections the lands deteriorate
in value because of the removal of the
soils natural fertility. but the Rio
Grande Valley land owner, who has
citrus acreage. each year can Sc
cure a good profit on his investment
while the value of his land increases
at the rate of at least $500 per year
for the first ten years.
What Truck Growers Are Doing
Citrus is not the only crop which
Yields the Valley farmer big returns.
There are hundreds Of Valley farmers
who have already sold from 500 10
$50 worth of cabbage from every acre
they have planted to that vegetable.
and are now preparing the ground
for a cotton crop which should yield
them from SO to 500 per acre addi-
tional. Even that is not all, after
the cotton is picked in late July thou
sands of acres of cotton stalks will be
plowed under, and the land planted
TO feed crops or possibly early winter
Notwithstanding three crops for tire
year. There are thousands of Valley
farmers who do this each year. and
the Senate investigating committee
will find il rather difficult to con-
vince these farmers that the valley land
is "wholly unfit for profitable farm
ing operations. -
Potato growers in the Brownville
district last season sold their crop.
marketed in the early spring. at prices
Ringing from > to cents per pound,
and the per acre production averaging
from 100 to 80 bushels, the gross
returns from practically every acre OF
potatoes was over $500. These facts
will be called to the attention of the
investigating committee when 1t
reaches the Valley.
Valley Making Record Shipments
I'll. V-oIlar alSo hnG tho nnIuup rec |