San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-13
'DAM ON NUECES
is PLANNED BY
|I.-G.N. RAILROAD
Would Turn Valley Into
Heavy Producing Cit
rus Section.
WILL COST $4,000
Engineers Survey for Dam
West Of Cotulla to
!. Irrigate.
WILL COST 100000

A survey program for iryigating ap-
proximately $4,000 acres of land in
the Nueces Valley below Cotulla, has
been perfected by engineers of the
I-G. N. railway working in conjunc-
ton with state engineers according to
Laurence Goforth, district freight
agent. The plans call for a dam
across the Nueces river, west of Co.
tuila. According to Mr.. Goforti:, the
engineers of the I-G. n. made the
first surveys, and the state engineers
were then sent down 70 check up on
the initial surveys and to pass on
the feasibility and practicability of
the project.
1t is planned to build the dam of
reinforced concrete and it will be 80
rect high, and will be constructed at
an estimated cost of $2,O00,O0O. The
project will be financed by improve
ment bonds, plans for which are now
being negotiated. According to Mr.. Co.
forth. the Neuces Valley, il properly
irrigated, is capable of producing any
sort OF semi-tropical fruit, and he
stated that the citrus fruits produced
III the Nueces Valley are equal in
size and flavor to any grown in the
United States.
Will Attract Visitors.
Mr.. Goforth said that San Antonio's
entire southern trade district will
benefit by this irrigation project, and
that 1T is probable that the project
when completed will substantially in
crease the population of all the. Nue.
ces Valley towns. Mr.. Goforth said
that the project will do much to in
crease the prosperity in that region.
and it is expected that the compile
ton of the dam will result in a large
number Of farmers from Iowa and
Kansas moving TO the Nueces Val
ley. According to Mr.. Goforth. this
section of Texas pOssesses/an ideal
climate for the cultivation of wide
variety OF crops, and as the soil is
rich, there is nothing further needed
to ensure the prosperity of the region
after the irrigation project has been
completed. With proper and sys.
tematic irrigation. the soil of this reg
ion is capable of producing an unlim.
ited succession of crops, and is equal
ly desirable for raising fruits and veg
eS 90 well as COttUu ana grains,
he said.
This region with its warmth and
sunshine, and rich soil is especially
suitable, to produce an exceptionally
high grade of citrus fruits. Oranges,
lemons, and grapefruit of exceptional
size and flavor have already been
raised in the portions of the Nueces
Valley where water is available. and
according to. Mr.. Goforth. like citrus
products can be cultivated on every
acre of the fertile valley after the
irrigation projects has been complet-
cd.
Mr.. Goforth states that the vegeta.
bles grown in this valley are of the
highest grade, and he believes that
the San Antonio market will be
greatly benefited by having such ex-
cellent truck farm facilities so close
at hand.
He said that the famous truck farms
and fruit orchards of southern Cali
fornia were desolate tracts of desert
land before they were irrigated. and
that the foresight of the men who put
over the irrigation projects in south
ern California has resulted in bring
ing many millions of dollars revenue
to California every year. According TO
Mr.. Goforth the Nueces Valley has
the same climatic advantages as has
southern California and possesses a
soil of undivalled richness.