Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-22
MILES OF
PIPE line In
HUGE PROJECT
+ 4harr-S San Juan-Alamo
District Starts Work
On High Efficiency
Water Distribution

lleiu OF irrigation constructs ion, The
Fnarr-San Juan-Alamo district. Hi
ualgo Nc. 2. has started work on al.
all-concrete pipe system. designed
10 water the 10000 acres Of The dis
trlct, which will be not only the
largest pipe irrigation system in the
world but also l. expected to prove
one or the most efficient.
Never before in the history Of ir-
Tigation has a project of such mag
nitude been launched. Every phase
OF construction Is being handled by
the district itself. including the
manufacture of the concrete pipe.
the plant for this purpose. recent
~ installed at San Juan. being the
largest Of its kind in the South and
when completed will be capable ~
producing from 1900 to 5000 feet
Uf concrete pipe per day.
In addition 10 this plant the dis
trict has purchased and is operat-
ing three outfits for the conStruc-
ton Of ~. so and 48-inch concrete
points where they will be installed
in the irrigation system. Over 800
mile5 of concrete pipe will be con-
structed and laid before the system
Is completed, and In addition ap-
p~rOximately "a miles Of canal mains,
totaling over 100000 square feet.
will be lined with concrete, all lin
ing TO be two inches thick.
The pipe sizes range from enol-
mous E-inch. through which a man
Of ordinary height may walk with
case, down to l6-inch. which will b.
used In the smaller distribution sys-
TENS. According to the engineers
specifications the amount Of pipe
used will be "a miles Of 16-inch, 48
miles OF l8-inch. 70 miles OF "a, 80
miles OF 80. Is miles Of IS. IA miles
Of AZ. 8 miles Of 48. Z miles OF go.
and approximately 2 IL miles Of
the huge ~.
Installation of the first two units
OF the concrete pipe plant was
completed early in April. and work
on the larger sizes. which must be
constructed near the point Of in
~stallation. started the latter part OF
June. Equipment for digging Of
bitches was received by the district
in June. and installation Of the pipe
system Is well under way. At leas.
tfFo years will be required to manu-
fEcture and install the pipe.
Survey Western Systems
Decision Of the board OF directors
20 install an all-concrete pipe sys-
tenn followed a survey Of irrigation
systems throughout the West, the
entire board and engineers Of the
district making an automobile trip
which covered the major projects Of
California and other western states.
On their return the proposition
was submitted to the voters Of the
district who voted a bend issue In
the amount OF S3.0O0O0O to finance
the project. The first 100000 OF
this issue was sold by the board
early this year.
The survey Of the western irri-
cation projects resulted In the
unanimous approval by the board
OF the all-concrete pipe system. as
assuring maximum efficiency and
minimum wastage and mainter-
ance. Under this system all canals,
with the exception Of approximately
"A miles. will be eliminated, and
water will be delivered through
pipes to every section Of the dis
trict.
Many Of the land owners propose
installation Of pipe systems for field
irrigation. which is expected TO fur
ther increase the general efficiency
Of the system. and meters will ac-
Curately check all deliveries.
The larger sizes Of pipe-the %,
so and 48-inch-will form the X
tensions of the main canals, and
will assure delivery Of water IN vol
ume ample 10 meet every require
ment. Specially designed machin-
cry is being used TO construct these
huge pipes at the points where they
will be installed. Each joint Is s
feet In length, and each Of the three
crews is now constructing 90 feet
of pipe per day. Some idea Of the
sire OF T2-inch pipe may be CLEAN
cd from the fact that each 6-foot
Joint weighs over 1000 pounds. and
the 6O-inch over 5000. AL the lars-
CIR sizes from 30-inch to 72-inch Is
steel reinforced. The 72-inch has
walls 5 inchts thick. the outside
diameter being 81 inches.
Securi Expert Pipe Engineer
Following approval Of the boards
plans for ar all-concrete pipe sys-
tenn and voting OF the bond issue.
one of the first moves Of A. Van
presar. general manager Of the dis
trict, was to secure the services or
Harry Tellyer. who installed several
of the largest pipes in the West.
Tellyer was appointed general man
ager of construction and Is in
charge Of both the plant and the
field work.
The equipment secured for the
concrete pipe plant Is Of the most
nnodern design. two units having al
readv been installed with two adoi-
fionaI units TO be installed later.
Most of the portable equipment for
manufacture OF the larger sizes VS.
rlsAde from special designs. A Cat
ryDiIlar tractor with special equip
ment. moves the portable plant,
raises and lowers the huge forms in
which the pipe is cast, and with its
crane attachment handles the pipe
when IL is lowered into the ditch.
The tractor also is equipped with
a device for back filling. and eryes
every purpose other than providing
the power for the concrete mixer.
Uniform density in the large pipe
Is assured by a vibrator which at
taches to the form and Is in cen
slant operation while the form Is