Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-13
Development Public
Utilities In Valley
Progressing Rapidly

has been increased 70 the point
where they will be in position %
handle over double that number OF
cars this year, il necessary.
1--WE are prepared to take care OF
the Valleys ice needs-whateyer
they may be-" Mr.. Ludden said. "It
Is the policy Of this company TO look
into the future, 70 anticipate the
Valleys needs. Our icing facilities
have been enlarged 20 meet every
requirement of the coming season,
and we will further enlarge them
when development Of the Valley
warrants. Ice Is essential In the
handling Of fresh vegetables, and the
company Ia well prepared TO meet
any condition or requirement that
may arise during the shipping sea-
son."
Improve Water Systems
The Central Power and Light Com
pany owns the water systems Of
San Benitc, Mercedes. Rio Grande
City, Edinburg and McAllen. These
systems have all been taken over
within the past four years and have
been brought TO a high state Of ef-
ficiency. Practically new systems
have been installed in some Of the
cities. These are thoroughly modern
IN every respect, assuring the cities
ample supplies Of excellent water.
The aggregate pumping capacity
Of the water systems operated by
the company is 6,500,000 gallons per
day. At Edinburg a settling basin
with a capacity OF 10000, 900 gallons
was recently completed, and at both
Mercedes and McAllen the systems
have been extended and improved.
The company Is also making a
Thorough investigation Of the posi- |
bilities Of cold storage in the Val
ley, ard plans to make this one of
the leading activities. "A battery Of
Geld storage plants, extending from
Point Isabel and Brownsville to Mis-
sion is being considered as an adj
junct to the orderly marketing az
the Valleys fruit and vegetable
crops. Present plans include a
$780, 900 plant at Harlingen which
will probably become one Of the
principal fruit and vegetable con-
centration points Of the South. En-
gineers are making a thorough sur
vey of the Valley to ascertain the
available for cold storage, market
conditions. the keeping qualities of
Valley products, and all other fac
tors entering into the project. Up
on their conclusions will depend the
extent Of the company's participa-
ton in this utility.
Construct Additional Lines
In addition to the 206 miles Of
transmission lines now in service
the company now has 81 miles Of adj
ditional high voltage line under con-
struction, and have given the assur-
ance that 1t will be completed before
January /. The new transmission
line includes 80 miles between Mis-
sion and Rio Grande: q miles be-
tween San Benito and the river
pumping plant Of the Mercedes sys-
TEN; and Q miles from Run to the
town Of Hidalgo along the river.
This signifies that by January /
there will be PCS miles of transmits
sion lines and PCS miles Of rural
lines operating in the Valley, and
there is no similar area in the
world that is better served cleo
trically, officials Of the company
state.
From the 10 sub-stations, where
transformers cut down the voltage to
suit the requirements, the ompan
now serves the following 26 Valley |
communities: West Brownsville. |
Point Isabel. Olmito, Barreda, San
Benito, Harlingen, Combes, Lyford.
Sebastian. Raymondville, La Feria,
Mercedes, Weslaco, Donna, Alamo.
San Juan, Pharr, McAllen, E~dinburg,
Mission, Rio Grande City, Elsa, Ed
couch, LaVilla La Blanca and Har-
gill.
Electrification of the pumping
plants Of several irrigation districts
has been one Of the principal fea-
lures in electrical development dur
ing the past two years. The pump
ing plants Of the Valley have a COM
bined horsepower OF 1850, and Of
this amount $40 horsepower is now
supplied by electric motors Flee
trification Of the major plants is
proceeding rapidly, and Is also be-
ing extended to many Of the small
er plants along the Rio Grande
supplying small privately owned ir-
rigation projects.