Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-16
BIG ACREAGE
NEAR MISSION
TO Be OPENED
Features Of Goodwin
Tract Project Ex-
planned to Group Of
Valley Men

sion, upon which the irrigation sys-
tenn is rapidly nearing completion,
were explained here Friday after
noon to a group of Valley chamber
Of secretaries, realtors,
business men and newspaper repre-
sentatives by Marvin Goodwin, chief
promoter Of the project.
The group, which comprised over
one HUNDRED. was taken on a tour Of
inspection Of the project, each de-
tail from the electrified pumping
plant TO the concerted canals and
pipe lines Of what vas termed "the
model irrigation system of the VAL
ley" being explained by Mr.. Good
win.
Following the Inspection tour n
! dinner was served in the basement
| of the First Methodist church, at
| which time the safes plan was set
| out in detail. MIR. Goodwin stated
IL is the purpose of the promoters
Ia bring the entire tract of $4,000
acres under development within W
years. High tribute was paid by Mr..
Goodwin to his associates, G.. f.
Wood. president of the irrigation
district comprising the Goodwin
tract; Z. NJ. Card, McAllen engi-
neer. who designed what is termed
"the model irrigation system" Owen
| Council of Mission, in charge of
paintings; r. A. Chambers, field en-
| gineer; Scott Graham of Weslaco,
and others who have been closely
associated with him in the develop
ment.
. This Is n system upon which
the estimates of cost have never
been exceeded" Mr.. Goodwin stated
in referring to the designing and
estimates by 4. NJ. Card. Il doubt
if there is n system in the United
States in which more value has been
received for the money expended.
Every detail is being carried out as
originally planned, and on no item
has the cost exceeded the estimates.
Develop $4,000 Acres
Approximately $4,000 acres will
be developed by the present system,
all Of which is contained in Hidalgo
County Water Improvement District
No. g., and the district is expected to
eventually include approximately
$4,000 acres. all main canals and
other facilities being provided for
that acreage.
The east line of the district is
three-fourths Of a mile west Of Mis-
sion, the district being 3 1-2 miles
east and west by 10 miles north and
south, and does not include any Of
the first lift lands lying along the
river. Approximately 30 per cent is
watered by the second lift, 80 per
cent by the third lift and 80 by the
fourth. The lift from the river is
1 20 faAf thn 1rcan1 1sFt 40 .-I naoL
Of the others approximately %. A
number Of small pumping plants, de-
signed TO water from 30 TO 500 acres
will supply irrigation for knolls.
The entire system is being placed
under concrete, comprising approx
mately so miles of concreet-lined
canals and 40 miles Of pipe lines,
the latter utilizing pipe ranging
from 10 to 80 inches, with an aver
age of approximately Is inches.
Concreting Of canals is well under
way. approximately three-fourths
of a mile of the main canal has been
completed, and several miles of lat
erals. Two crews are now at work
and the canals and laterals are be-
ing concreted as fast as settled.
Construction of pipe lines is also
underway.
System Electrified
The first lift pump is located
about three miles west Of the west
line Of the tract, and the main canal
runs IN an easterly direction the
width Of the tract. Two electrically
operated pumps with a capacity Of
10000 gallons per minute have been
installed, with space for the install
lation of a third which will increase
the capacity to $4,000 gallons per
minute, sufficient to handle 10000
TO $4,000 acres under concrete. The
canal TO the reservoir, a half mile
distant, will rot be lined. The sec
ond lift pump is located on the
north end Of the reservoir, and has
a pumping capacity equal to the
first lift, the canals from the Sec
ond lift supplying 40 per cent Of the
acreage. All pumping plants, in
GLIDING those for extra lifts, are
electrified, the power lines of the
Central Light and Power Co. run
ming to all parts Of the project.
One feature to which attention
was called by Mr.. Goodwin, was the
nigh velocity Of water in the con-
creetd canals. Deliveries 10 all sec
tions of the tract, il was stated.
could be made in approximately so
per cent of the time required under
a dirt canal system. Control reser-
voirs have been established in vari-
Gus parts Of the tract to prevent
damage from sudden shutting off OF
irrigation, the water from the canals
discharging into the reservoirs. Spe-
rfu1fp Iaut~naL ~tonl nwI ~1n~waA-
gates are being constructed and all
water will be delivered through me-
ters.
A Citrus Project
Mr.. Goodwin stressed the fact
that practically the entire acreage
will be developed as "A citrus fruit
project, stating that the soil is es-
pecially adapted to citrus culture.
The soil type Is very uniform over
the entire tract. a light sandy loan,
easy to work. Several hundred acres
have already been set to citrus fruit,
part Of which Is being watered from
the recently completed canals and
the rest handled with tank wagons.
II consider this the finest citrus
fruit soil in the world" Mr.. Good
win said. "and every expert who has
examined the tract has agreed with
me. ! am confident the entire acre
age included in the district eventual
ly will be set out to citrus fruit. and
that this section will become n of
the heaviest producers IN the United
States.
IL was the concensus Of his audi
tors that Mr.. Goodwin's statement
concerning the a~daptability Of the
soil TO citrus culture was borne out
by the large acreaEes OF young trees,
all of which are thriving and max
ing rapid growth.
Near the center Of the tract there
is an o~utcropping or the "red" lands,
particularly adaptea 70 grape cul-
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