Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-05
DRAINAGE TO
ENLARCEAREA
OF DISTRICT
Cameron County No. z
Made Good Record
In 1927, Report of
Auditor Asserts

GAGAtg NOHSAQGLGu uulAtAoUAC AauQg anu
the revelation of tremendous growth
in the acreage of irrigable lands
IN Cameron county are the high
spots in the annual auditors report
submitted this week to the Cameron
county water improvement district
number two, of which Frank s. Rob-
ertson of San Benito is manager.
The annual report of the district
as prepared by H. +. Patterson, pub
lie accountant, shows an unprecedent-
ed record in the history Of Valley
irrigation, revealing a decrease in
the cost of irrigating each acre in
the district of 1854. The report
shows that in 1925 the average cost
per acre was $3.50 whereas during
the year just past the cost was $500.
According to tho report there were
oS,499 acres watered during 1927 rs
compared to 1885 acres during the
preceding year, an increase of a.
la acres.
Notwithstanding the increased
acreage for irrigation the report re-
veais that the expenditures for con-
struction during the present year
were s17,1Os.7S less than last
Last year the expenditure was $751;
l06, while this year it was S43,-
4S9.
Expenditures Judicious
A examination" the official re-
port Of the auditor states, "of the
items of expenditure in both con-
struction and maintenance accounts
~discloses judicious expenditure along
all lines of system betterments. Out
OF construction expenditure of s43.-
49S.l3 there was spent s45,36O.59. or
30 lilo per eent for new work and
b~etterment Of canals and laterals.
~$54,699.92 alone being spent for
structures and Innings in canals ana
I~aterals. Such expenditure is most
beneficial as it means good service
and above all, prevents waste and
seepage, thereby aiding drainage.
most necessary for the continuance
OF productive irrigated lands.
Last year, the river cut through
q new channel nearly a mile below
the intake, leaving the pumping plant
that distance from the river prousr.
AT the time. it seemed that a catas-
trophe had happened to the district.
CONSERVATION was however allayed
when Frank Robertson and ". +. An
derson. consulting engineer. came
forward with these Measuring
words: While srious, IL il NOT
%ruinous, as a channel can be dredged
from the river to the pumping plant
at a not prohibitive cost. and that
after this channel is completed. the
cost Of maintaining same will not
De as much as that spent in making
the yearly fight for the protection
ot the pumping plant from river en-
enactment A year has now passed
and the record is before US as 10 the
statement of these eminent engi-
neers.
Maintenance Cost
In addition to the direct expen-
clture of $~16,435.75 for drainage, we
IND that the district dredges did
s~ls,56e.36 Of work for the drainage
district. Such intelligent efforts
continued means reclamation Of
lands now classed on the rolls as
outage" Already the improvement
OF such lands is quite noticeable.
mere IS, however, much to be done
along this line; for without good
drainage success will not be attain
ed from irrigated lands.
FIRST. we find that as to a mot
prohlbltive cost there was spent
Tor the emergency protection and
dlgglng the new channel, S4,2s2. 29.
such expenditure has allowed the
Channel 10 be dredged and paid for.
ana Is IN successful operation. Sec
nd, We find that the cost of main
tanning this channel for the mast
year was $2,49s; that there was spent
TINS year $l56.25 for river protection
as compared with $7,5I2.24 last wear
and SI,9O5.O9 the year before. There
fore this condition is apparent: the
saving Of $4,000 per year between tha
cost OF maintaining the channel in
place OF lighting river enroaehment
VIII IN eight years equal the emery
eney expenditure.
Urges Drainage
The asset and liability schedule
IS the real barometer of the sue
cess OF the business in which one
Is engaged. The more study given
such schedule will be nhe realization
achievement or error in judgment.
The schedule discloses that if YOU
were 10 collect the items OF assets
as set out therein and YOU wouId
pay the items of liability set out. Won
would have left the net worth in
cash, set out at s~1,635,I63.25. The
sum equals $3S for each acre an the
Hat rate roll this year in the san
benlto tract, the owner of the dis
trict.
Your gain this year in worth IN
S24, 266.S6. This showing Is made
after first deducting depreciation
charges of s~39,s75.24. Taking INTO
consideration the conditions that
prevailed the past year such n
showing is most impressive and will
and should be appreciated when
known by the district owners. Under
this head, | have for a number Of
Years urged the absolute necessity
OF adequate drainage as indispen-
siole to success Of any irrigated
section. 1t is very pleasing to note
increased effort along this line; al
so that the result of this effort Is
becoming quite noticeable. How
ever best results will not be OBJ
tanned until an adequate system Is
complete. With such completion st.
tanned. let me repeat the prediction
heretofore made: that the long list
Of outage will be returned to the
roll, q happy. prosperous owner will
tall same, and receive therefrom full
returns for labor expended"
TRUCK SHIPMENTS
Chfnmapfa fror ~. V-ff.- T