Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-10-02
Better Organization
OF Citrus Interests
In Valley is Urged

Organization o. lower Rio
Grande Valley citrus growers upon
the same basis as the Californ.a
growers is essential to assure the
prosperity Of the citrus industry In
the Valley, is the opinion Of II. II.
Banker, Brownsville citrus grower,
who returned recently from an ex-
tensive tour Of the west coast cit
gus sections.
"The Lower Rio Gran1e Valley
has every advantage over Cali
\ fornia," Mr.. Banker said. However,
we are handicapped by the fact that
the growers are not organized. The
valley soil is far superior for the
ygowing Of citrus; production costs
~ 80 Valley are much lower; but
the ~B9kfFnia growers, through
their hlgky efficient organizations,
nave established markets and main
tanned them in the face Of all COM
petition.
THE Lower Rio Grande Valley
VIII soon be producing large guam
Titles OF citrus fruit. 1t is obvious
that the Valley growers, despite
their cheaper production costs, will
De handicapped unless they are thor
oughly organized"
Mr- Banker reports that the citrus
crop N California will be short this
season. b additional acreage plant
ed TO citrus trees in recent years has
bes3 small, and the C~aliforrians are
apparently content to endeavor to
hold their own with the present
acreage.
The Peach and plum crops in the
west coast country were the heaviest
In recent years, and thousands Of
tons OF fruit were never taken to
market All growers are well or
ganized and they carefully refrain
from placing fruit on the market
when II would cut prices below q
profitable level.
Advocates Concreting Canals
Mr.. Banker Is a director Of the
Cameron County Water Control and
improvement District No. z, and
while In California investigated a
number Of the irrigation systems.
4 found practically no open ditch
stems in the fruit producing areas,
psf Of the irrigation water being
pplied through pipe systems under
ssure.
irrigation conditions in Califor-
are in no way similar to those
lining in the Valley" Mr.. Bank
id. II believe the Valley will
lally be compelled tc line its
tion canals. and the adoption
9 pipe system Of irrigation
become general in the large
orchards. II the Lower Rio
de Valley would adopt the CAL
hia system ten times as much
could be irrigated with the wa
o diverted from the river.
cost of pumping water is too
at and our land is becoming too
liable 70 permit the waste of wa
and damage to land that is now
evident in all parts Of the Val
he irrigation district Of which
Banker Is one Of the directors,
wn 'as the West Brownsville
trict, recently voted bonds in the
mount Of $3.50 0 for improvement
OF the system. The DISCREET en-
braces approximately 5000 acres, in
close proximity to the city Of
brownsville. Ii contemplates the
ccncreting Of all main canals and
parts Of the laterals. and water me-
tiers will be installed for all water
users. A large acreage which has
recently been added to the district
will probably install pipe irrigation.
Satisfied With the Valley
Mr.. Banker was one Of the pio-
neer citrus growers Of the Valley,
his grove near Brownsville having
been planted in 1909, and has de-
veloped into one Of the most pro-
ductive in the country. He is salts
fled that the Valley will eventually
pass all its competitors in both
production and quality OF products,
but predicts serious consequences
unless the Valley citrus growers
profit by the experience of those Of
California and Florida and perfect
an "air-tight" organization.
Reorganization Is Fundamental, 10
profitable development II the in
dustry," Mr.. Banker asserted. "We
cannot be too strongly organized. In
the battle for markets that will
soon be on, our competitors will
have an advantage we cannot over
ecme unless we are organized.
"It would be m inspiration 70
Valley growers to visit California
and ascertain the power Of their or
ganization and what il has ac-
complished for the growers, indi-
vidually and collectively. 1t has
created and maintained markers for
their production; il has made Cali
fornia fruit known in every section
Of the civilized world, and ii has
brought profits to growers where
only losses would accrue IL Il were
not for the prrauiynfinD