Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-16
IRRIGATION
PROJECT ASKS
SPECIAL BILL
Valuation for $4,000
Acre District In Will
lacy County Is Being
Sought
fSnecial to The Heraldl

~ -
RAYMONDVILLE, Dec. 15.-Vali-
dation of the Wiliacy County Water
Control and Improvement District
No. 4, embracing approximately
129. 900 acres in Willacy and Hidalgo
session of the legislature, was the
announcement of w. A. Harding,
president, and W. T. Holder, secre-
tary. following the election on Dec.
10, in which the land owners went
on record in favor Of the district by
a vote Of 70 to 3.
The ball for valuation of the dis
trict and approving all orders made
by the board of directors and other
authorities, has been drawn, and the
necessary publication announcing no
tice of intetio to apply for passage
Of a special law, was made Friday.
Most of the area in the projet
was included in the Union Irrigation
district. organized in 1914, but which
vas eve carried out. Sections in
which a large number Of property
owners objected TO inclusion in the
district we're dropped out. the orig
inal plan being TO irrigate approx
nately 10000 acres.
Tentative plans for the district
have been completed, and il is I'M
derstood the final plans will soon be
IN shape for presentation TO the state
board of water engineers. Leaders IN
the movement have announced that
an effort will be made as soon as the
special act By the legislature Is
passed TO vote a bond issue to con-
struct the system.
Lands 10 be included are part Of
the Mestenas tract IN Hidalgo coun-
~ the rest lying in the central and
northern sections of Willacy county,
The major part Of the acreage is un-
developed, the remainder being un-
der cultivation without irrigation.
Get Gravity Flow
Tentative plans include diversion
of water from the Rio Grande at a
point between the Mercedes and
Donna pumps, and a gravity flow
from the river to the storage basins.
Surveys indicate that the major part
OF the acreage can be irrigated by
gravity, engineers state, and the re.
mainder will require lifts ranging
from four to eight feet. The plans
$3.50 A1AAaC 4NAAALaNaOA VI a uAAlDtE
OF natural depressions for reser.
volrs, with an estimated capacity OF
$4,000 acre feet, sufficient to assure
ample supply for the entire acreage
for a six-month period. Utilization
Of the Sal del Rey. n large salt basin
northwest Of Raymondville, is being
discussed. and If utilized will mate
rally increase the s-0rr-e capacity
este Indicate thn ~afN - a. -.
could be leached oul with. two OF
three applications Of fresh water.
The district proposes diversion ~
flood or surplus waters only. off
Gals stating that il would in n,
way interfere with other Valley pro.
iects by diversion OF waters which
might be used on the lower reache.
Of the stream. A complete concret,
system will be installed. accordin,
to plans Of the proponents.
Valleys Largest District
The bed Of the Rio Grande al tht
point between the Mercedes and Don
ma pumps, where the water will b
diverted, Is approximately Is fee
above sea level. and the city OF Ray
mondville is 81 feet. The cana
would run almost due north 10 tn.
Mestenas tract, then in a northeast
erly direction to the reservoirs, al
proximately 25 to 80 miles. II i
estimated that the fall would aver
age over one foot ii the mile. the be-
OF the reservoirs being about 40 fee
above sea level. Surveys indicat
that the entire acreage come undo
irrigation has an average altitud