Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-13

county is also being utilized as a
floodUay, and inlet works and levees
have been constructed which Will
permit the discharge of 5000 second
feet through this natural channel.
Mexico Starts System
2 Flood protection work Is also un-
derway on the Mexican side Of the
Rio Grande. and while the protec-
tiv works viii not be as extensive
as on the American side, they will
prove a valuable aid during major
folod periods. Dredges now oper-
ating on the Mexican side are con-
struct.ng channels that will carry the
flood waters into the Arroyo del
Tigre outlet will take d large volume
guna Madre about sixty miles south
Of the mouth OF the Rio Grande.
The Matamoros district has sus-
tanned heavy losses as a result Of
floods. and the levee and floodway
systems contemplated BY the Mex
lean engineers are expected 10 ma
terially improve the situation on that
side OF the stream. The Arroyo del
Tigre outlet will take a large colume
Of the flood waters.
How the System viii Operate
Maximum floods NJ 10000 10 200,-
600 second feet occur very seldom on
the Rio Grande. Five year have
elapsed since the Valley has been
menaccd, and serious losses were
caused BY that flood az 1922. How
ever, the Valley has prepared to
meet any emergency that may arise.
AL a. FN-ME ~Ams~-F 49, ---~
neraing completion will virtually
eliminate the danger Of heavy loss.
During periods OF major flood l20.-
COO second feet viii be taken out Of
the stream az the inlets near Mis-
sion and Hidaigo, and will he dis
charged through the north ~floodway
and the Arroyo Colorado into the
Laguna Madre. The river levees will
protect the lowlands against such
flood waters as may remain in the
stream. The river from Mercedes 10
Mission will carry 10000 second feet
without danger. and any excess OF
this amount will be discharged on
the Mexican side.
The spread of the waters on the
Mexican side. and their discharge
through the Arroyo del Tigrc and the
Rancho Niejo rcsaca will relieve the
pressure on the Brownsville section
Of the stream, and the river levees
will assure ample protection 20 the
entire river front area in Cameron
county from the Hidalgo county line
70 a point below the cultivated area
east Of Brownsville. The present
river levec system, though X Us much
stronger than the system constructed
during the early years Of Valley de-
velopment, will never be called upon
70 resist the same pressure. as the
major Of the flood waters will be re-
moved from the river in the upper
part Of the Valley.
Assures Big Development
The flood protection system has
opened 70 development thousands Of
acres Of rich river land In both
Cameron and Hidalgo counties which
was formerly subject 70 overlooking
during the periodic floods OF the Rio
Grande. The completion of the river
levees has been followed BY the
clearing az thousands Of acres; ir-
riration districts have extended their
systems. and numerous small pri-
owned irritation plants have
installed to supply water for
the additional acreage.
The effects Of this protection are
also apparent in the rapid develop
Of those lands in western and
northern Cameron county which we're
10 overflow, and also the de-
Of large acreagcs in viii
LACY county.
The entire flood control project
was financed hy the states remission
az ndvalorem taxes for q period or
years, and within three years the
valuations Of the two counties have
been increased 70 the point where
are now paying into the state
treasury approximately the same tax
rs was paid prior 20 the passage Of
he remission bills.