Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-01

Their development and in
placing all activities upon a
plane of greater prosperity.
Transportation Improved
The Southern Pacific. which began
Its extension from Falfurrias to the
Lower Rio Grande Valley late in
1926, has completed Its lines to
Brownsville. opening new and large
areas Of extremely fertile land which
Is now developing rapidly. The line
was completed into Edinburg and on
TO McAllen and Harrington early in
the year, the extension to Browns
VILE being completed in October.
The Missouri Pacific is also COM
pleting additional lines, including the
19-mile extension southeast from
Raymondville, a Smile extension
from Fernando above Rio Hondo to
the coast, ar 1S-mile extension from
n point near San Benito to Holly
Beach on the coast, and a T-mile ex-
tension from La Paloma on the mill
tary highway south toward Browns
vile.
The extensions OF these rail lines
has been followed by the establish
nent of a large number OF town
sites, several of which are already
thriving little cities. Los Fresnos. on
the Southern Pacific ten miles north
Of Brownsville. Is building rapidly.
Elsa, Edcouch, La Villa on the South
ern Pacific in Hidalgo county, have
become market centers for large
areas, as has also Santa Rosa in
Cameron county. Several new towns
are being developed on the Missouri
Pacific extension in Willacy county,
and practically all towns establish
ed on the new extensions in 1926
have thriven.
Highway Development
One of the most important fea-
lures of the past year was the
launching Of a 100000 highway
Improvement program in Cameron
county, and the voting of S~4,s50,UOU
road bonds by two districts in Hi
dalgo county. Cameron county has
issued S2,000,00o in road bonds, has
completed so miles of concrete pave
ment, and will complete Approximate
~ IL more in two weeks. The county
has also completed grading and
structures on practically all the most
important dirt highways. several Of
which will eventually be paved.
Contracts totaling $4,000 wiz De
let for dirt work and structures on
additional roads early in January.
Hidalgo county Road District No.
I, which comprises all of the county
with the exception of the irrigated
area not included in the Edinburg
and western part of the Mercedes
district. has voted road bonds in the
amount of $4,000 900, and is prepar-
ing to start work. Hidalgo Road
District No. ., including the eastern
part of the Mercedes system and the
Llano Grande district. has voted
sS50,000 road bonds and will soon
have paving under way. Several
other sections Of Hidalgo county are
preparing to organize road districts.
and it is estimated that approxi-
mately 100000 will be expended
on highway construction in that
county.
The completion of the San Benito-
Rie Hondo-Harlingen loop was the
first achievement of Cameron county
under its $6.0 900 bond issue. the
longest paved loop in the southern
part Of the state.
Building Breaks gecord
All building records for the VAL
ley have been broken during the past
wear. This has not been confined
10 any one section. All cities and
towns have responded to the de-
mand for more business structures
and residences. and this has been
equally true of the rural eommuni-
ties. Millions of dollars have also
been expended for paving, laying of
sewer and water mains and other
municipal improvements, and It IS
conservatively estimated that the
1927 building program OF the valley
represents en- investment OF approx
mately $4,000 900.
One Of the features of the build
ing program, which marks the tran
sition Of the Valley from the pio-
ncering stage, is the high class OF
construction employed. The major
ity of new buildings, both business
and residential, are permanent struc-
lures of brick, tile or concrete. Ar
chitectural designs are of rare beau
~. we'll adapted to climatic condi-
tions.
Property valuations In many Of the
Valley. cities have been almost
doubled as o result Of these build
ing activities. several of the struc-
representing investments run
ming into hundreds of thousands of
dollars. Some of the most notable
completed or well under
A are the Hotel FL Jardin az
the MeAilen Hotel.
Moore Hotel at Harrington, munich !
pal hospitals at McAllen and Edin-
burg and several large urban and
rural schools. including the com
school plant at Edinburg.
high at Mission and the SEN
.nr high and junior college AZ
&pwnsvilIe.
Irrigation DEVELOPMENTS