Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-11
PROPOSE VOTE
FOR CONCRETE
CANAL SYSTEM
La Feria District Is
Considering Bond
Issue of 5 ,50O,OOO to
Finance Work

Ia FERIA, Sept. 11.-votinr Of
bonds in the amount Of s1,500,O0
for the purpose Of placing its en-
tire irrigation system under con-
crete, IL being considered by the La
Feria water district. Several mass
meetings Of district voters have
be held. and the meetings are re-
ported to 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 investigating
the physical and financial factors
involved. Several meetings have
been held with the Loard of direc-
tors OF the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo
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 $1,500,00 would be
sufficient 70 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 the
district in recent years, and it Is
confronted with practically the same
problem as the Pharr-San jun
Alamo district, engineers state. Az
the various meetings Of taxpayers
the face has been pointed ont that
unless the system is placed under
concrete II win be necessary 10 in
stall an expensive drainage system
which would represent n heavy out
lay with practically To return in the
way Of decreased cost Of operation
and maintenance.
II Is estimated that installation
of concrete system will reduce oper-
alton costs between 40 and so per
cent and reduce maintenance to the
minimum. Investigations by the
committe indicate that the direct
saving to the district from these
sources viii probably be sufficient
70 carry the interest and sinking
fund for the bond issue, il was
stated.
The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo sys-
tenn, in which seepage conditions are
very similar to those on the La
Feria district, recently investigated
the concrete systems of California
and other western states, the board
Of directors being unanimous In
recommending concreting Of the en-
tire system. When the bond issue
was submitted TO the voters IL car
ried q heavy majority.
Committees representing the Ia
Feria system have investigated the
concrete canal work on the West
Brownsville. McAllen, Mercedes and
Mission systems, and recently Exam
ined the work now under way on the
FL Jardin system. where concrete
lining is being applied at points Of
heavy seepnge.
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 TO
prevent wastage of water and to as
sure maximum efficiency in distri-
button 10 all parts Of the system.
"The La Feria system has reached
the point where il is necessary that
something be done TO eliminate this
waste and damage to lands" W. A.
Amthor, district manager and engi-
neer said. 81 believe it advisable 70
adopt the same plan as the Pharr-
San Juan-Alamo system and placs
the entire system under concrete.
thereby solving our problems, assur-
ing maximum efficiency in distri-
button and minimum cost Of opera
tion."