Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-22
NEW
INCLUDE over
22O,OOOACRES
Ten Districts Organic
ed In Less Than z
Years to Extend IT.
rigated Section

Organization Of ten additional IT.
figation districts and financing or
projects which will increase the
irrigable area to over 10000 acres
has been the outstanding feature
Of irrigation development In the
Valley the past is months.
From Roma in the western part
of Starr county to the coastal area
in eastern Cameron. and north to
the northern section OF Willacy
county, development Of irrigation
Is o under way. Throughout the
entire Valley new irrigation districts
have been formed and new pro-
Jects financed, projects which are
designed to add over 100000 acres
to to areas now under irrigation,
and placing the Valley In premier
position among the irrigated sec
tons Of the United States.
Among the new projects. prac-
tically ali Of which have construc-
ton under way. are the Willac"
county district. the largest irriga-
ton district in the world. which
will have a total area OF l30,001
acres, with approximately $4,000
acres irrigable, the Starr county
district. which will water 30,UOc
acres. the Goodwin system west OF
Mission. which will water $4,000
acres; Hidalgo No. z, which will cx-
tend into the jackson and Retama
tracts northeast Of Mission, adding
$1,000 acres; the Engelman system.
which will utilize drain waters
from the Donna district. to irrigate
approximately 10000 acres. and
" new districts in Cameron
county designed 10 handle a total
of $4,000 acres.
All the new districts are financed
TO put In complete concrete canal
or concrete pipe systems. and sew
erai OF the old districts-the Pharr-
SsQ Juan-Alamo. Edinburg. West
Brownsville and La Feria-also arc
re$aring to concrete their systems
or have the work under way. In
practically every Valley district long
sections Of canal have been con-
GREETED or replaced by pipe lines
within the past year. eliminating
water wastage and land damage 70
q great extent.
Several innovations in irrigation
construction have been featured ~
connection with the new projects.
Under a ruling Of the state water
board ell new districts are required
to provide water storage in the ra-
ito Of one acre foot Of storage for
every acre TO come under irriga-
ton. The result OF this ruling Is
the construction Of huge reservoirs.
the reservoirs of the Willacy cou--
ty district to impound over 10000
acre feet Of Rio Grande flood wa
tiers. Other new districts are ar
ranging for storage In lesser
amounts.
Utilize Drain Waters
Two projects are under construc-
don which will utilize drain wa
tiers. On the Engelman lands. TO-
600 acres will be watered princi-
pally by the drainage Of the Hi
dalgo county irrigation systems, and
In northeastern Cameron county
the AL Parker Securities Co. Of Il
Feria is developing over 10000 acres
Of coastal lands which will be wa
tered from the drainage Of central
Cameron county. the Laguna Atlas
cosa. the Cayo Atascosa and q
small natural lake in the eastern
part OF the properties being utilized
for storage Of the drain waters. On
both projects primary reservoirs
have been completed and filled
work being well under way on the
irrigation system for the Engelman
lands.
The WilIacy county district vii
utilize only flood waters to irrigate
the huge acreage. the water TO be
diverted at times when the stream
Is above the 5-foot height at point
Of diversion. These flood waters
viii be carried northward to the
reservoirs. to be distributed By gray
ity. Some Of the new districts In
the lower part Of the Valley Will
also utilize flood waters in filling
their reservoirs. diverting the wa
ter from the stream at times when
IL is possible TO secure gravity floT.
thereby eliminating the expense Of
pumping.
Another innovation has been in
PRODUCED by the Pharr-San Juan
Alamo district which Is construct
ing a practically ~all-concrete pipe
system to water its $4,000 acres. q
project which was financed by Z
100000 bond issue. When this
work is completed the Walk will
have the largest concrete pipe irri-
cation system in the world.
A Year of Achievement
The past year has been one Of
distinctive achievement by the va
rious irrigation systems. Both the
EfN ardin and Donna districts have
practically completed drainage Sys-
TENS which are proving Of great
value In reducing land damage. The
Harrington and San Benito districts
also have extended their drainage
systems, and in the Los Fresnos
section large acreageS have been
brought under cultivation as a re-
suit OF the extension and improve
ment Of drainage. In the La Feria
district considerable attention has
been devoted 10 drainage. and over
1000 acres, formerly the bed Of Tia
Cano lake, has been reclaimed. with
.he major portion under cultiva-
Nsn~ l