Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-11
PROPOSE VOTE
FOR CONCRETE
CANAL SYSTEM
La Feria District Is
Considering Bond
Issue Of $1,5OO,00O to
Finance Work

IA FERIA, Sept. 11.-Voting Of
bonds in the amount Of 81, 500. 900
for the purpose Of placing it's en-
tire irrigation system under con-
crete, IA being considered BY the La
Feria water district. Several mas
meetings Of district voters have
be held, and the meetings arc re-
ported 10 have been almost unani-
nous in favor Of the plan.
Committees appointed by the
board Of directors and the taxpayers
Of the district are now invcstigp- ing
the physical and financial factors
involved. Several meetings have
been held with the board Of direc-
tors Of the Pharr-San Juan-AIamo
district which recently voted So 900 :
900 for the purpose Of installing q
concrete pipe and concrete lined
ditch system.
The acreage Of the La Feria dis
trict is approximately half that Of
the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo system,
and according to estimates Of the
district engineer, w. A. Amthor, a
bond issue Of S1,500.00e would be
sufficient 10 pipe all the major irri-
CATION lines Of the district and
concrete all distributing lines.
Damage to lands as the result Of
canal seepage has been heavy in tho
district in recent years and IL Il
confronted with practically the same
problem as the Pharr-San Jun
Alamo district, engineers state. Al
the various meetings Of taxpayers
the face has been pointed out that
unless the system is placed under
concrete il will be necessary to In.
stall an expensive drairage system
which would represent a heavy out
lay with practically no return in the
way Of decreased cost Of operation
and maintenance.
II il estimated that installation
Of concrete system will reduce oper-
alton costs between 40 and so PEI
cent and reduce maintenance 70 the
minimum. Investigations by the
committe indicate that the direct
saving 70 the district from these
sources will probably be sufficient
TO carry the interest and sinking
fund for the bond Issue, it was
stated. b
The Pharr-San Juan. Alamo sys-
TEN. in which seepage conditions are
very similar to those On the Ia
Feria district, recently Investigated
the concrete systems &c California
and other western states the board
Of directors being urssaimous In
recommending concreting Of the en-
tire system. When the bond issue
was submitted to the voters it ear
ried a heavy majority.
Committees representing the La
Feria system have investigated the
concrete canal work on the West
Brownsville. McAllen, Mercedes and
Mission systems, and recently exam
med the work now under way on the
Fl Jardin system, where concrete
lining is being applied at points Of
heavy seepage.
In the event the bond issue Is
voted. the general plans Of the
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo district will
be adopted in connection with the
construction work. These provide
for a combined concrete pipe and
concrete lining system designated 70
prevent wastage Of water and TO as
sure maximum efficiency in distri-
button 70 all parts Of the system.
"The Ia Feria system has reached
the point where Il il necessary thai
something be done 70 eliminate this
waste and damage to lands" W. A
Amthor. district manager and engi-
neer said. IL believe it advisable Ia
adopt the same plan rs the Pharr-
San Juan-Alamo system and placl
the entire system under concrete
thereby solving our problems, assur-
ing maximum efficiency in distri-
button and minimum cost Of opera
ton