Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-13
HIGH DEGREE
OF EFFICIENCY
IS ATTAINED
Many Improvements
Made in Valley Irri-
CATION Plants in the
Past Year

made greater strides the past year
than in any year Of Valley history
From Mission 10 Brownsville inn
provements in both irrigation and
drainage. the latter being closely
associated with irrigation, have got
ten underway. and the Valley sys-
tens are rapidly approaching AT eff
1ieieney Cndreamed Of IN the early
days Of Valley development.
Less than a quarter 81 a century
ago the first large irrigation project
In the Valley was inaugurated at
Brownsville. From that small be-
ginning has sprung fourteen major
systems. all Of which. with the ex-
eeption Of two. are owned and oper-
ated BY the land owne-s under irri-
cation districts.
Over Sl5. 000, 600 have been invest
ed in these systems. Over 1000
miles Of canals now traverse a region
which less than q generation ago
grew nothing but mesquite and cac-
tus. and from these canals the Valley
grower receive the water that IL the
basis for the prolific production 81
their fertile acres.
In addition 10 the improvements
AVAtIlCNl UI uEt4HN Wy WN NA@N-NN-t
~ all systems, the year has also
been marked by extension Of the
irrigated area westward. The re-
cent ALLEGATION of water Tor the Good
win Tract IL $4,000 acres west o.
Mission. the voting Of bonds for the
construction or a model irrigation
system, mark the westward trend o.
the irrigated areas. Irrigation has
" a. al. aAaaau
area az Holly Beach, and plans are
being formulated whereby the sur
plus waters IL the Rio Grande may
be utilized for the irrigation Of i'm
ncnse and fertile areas IN the coast
al region or Cameron county south 81
the Arroyo Colorado.
A Year Of Achievement
The past year has been n of dis
tinctive achievement by the various
irrigation systems. Both the Donna
and FL Jardin systems have huge
drainage and improvement projects
underway. The latter district Is ex-
pending YER 5000. 900 in the cnstruc-
ton Of a drainage sy tenn that wall
affect the entire $4,000 acres includ.
ed ia the district. The Donna sys
TEN is expanding approximately
$500. 900 for a drainage system that
is designed TO effectively drain
every part Of the district, and is ex-
pending a similar amount in canal
lateral and pumping plant improve
ments. The Harrington district has
recently completed a comprehensive
drainage system, and drainage has
also received considerable attention
in the San Benito and Mercedes dist
ricts. Completion of the flood con
troll channels will provide drainage
for large areas in the northern Sec
tions Of the Hidalgo county dis
tricts, and plans have already been
formulated for their utilization.
Another feature which has marked
the improvements undertaken the
past year has been the electrifica-
ton Of several of the river and sec.
ond lift pumping plants. FL Jardin
district has electrified the entire
system. as has also the Llano Grande
district. Electrical units have been
installed nv the Donna. McAllen, Fl
Jardin, Mission and Mercedes sys
tens. which have discarded many 81
their old oil installations. The sys-
TEN on the Goodwin Tract will also
be electrified throughout.
Another feature has been the
mounting interest in concreting OF
canals as n method Of conserving
water and preventing damage "a land
through The NOAlien sys-
TEN recently let a contract for con
GREETING twelve miles Of canal and
smaller contracts have been let on
the Mission ard Mercedes systems
The new district west Ct Mission vii
concrete It's entire system. provis-
ions for this work having been in
cluded in its bond issue.
Cultivated Area Increases
Another feature Of the year has
been the increase IN the acreage
under cultivation. The actual fig
ures are not available. but in the
irrigated area engineers and irriga-
ton managers estimate that az least
40O,0 900 Of the 457 900 acres under
the canals is now being cultivated.
a gain a. nearly 60.no0 over 1925
reports. The new districts in west
ern HidAlro county will bring the
ttal area under canal % 10000 and
plans now being formulated win pro-
baby bring the total close 70 800
600 within two years.
There are approximately $4,000
acres Of irriEabie lands outside the
present irrigation districts, and part
Of this has in the past years been
developed as unirriEateG land and Al
producing crops If cotton. Germ and
vegetables.
The history ar the development ~
the irrigated districts has been the
HISTORY OF VALLEY development. IL
1912 less than 100000 acres were
under irrigation. bat hy 1919 ihs
acreage had increased 20 $4,000
Then followed the era III rarid de-.
velopment. The original canal sys.
TENS were sometimes crude. iuef.
ficient affairs. privately awncd, hut
with their acquisition PSI the dist.
riots their efficiency was improved
10 the point where development o.
an extensive scale was justified.
From 1918 20 1927 over 100000
nrres were added 70 the cultivated
area Of the Valley. Many 81 th'
canal systems were extended y
rrovi5e water for new developments
rvarv effort was made hy thS dis
svirts and the district managers x
increase their efficiency. with the re-
snlt that in recent years the Valleys
s-riration systems have been able q
.-oviae all needs Of their respective
t;s.rirts. and losses through lack 81
sr-riratfon water have been almof0
negligible
One or the most striking examples
- re manner IN which the Vale,
~vstems have sought 20 increase ths
effiriencv or their plants in that a
.he rdinburg district. Abandoning
,be;r oririnsi river pump and secens
III, rlars the district established
IL river pump AZ Penitas, five mile:
ahove Mission and constructed etgn'
-sir~ az main canal 70 assure an ade'
.s.a supply and efficient services
far the district
MANY Small Irrigation Plants
sores Of small irrigation plants
n4a- - Efarw rnurfr "a Thf