Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-29

80 %
ed upon q period of development
following several months Of compar-
alive inactivity, which however, had
the effect OF preparing for future
development rather than represent
ing a cessation Of progressiveneSs.
With the recent announcement Of
formation Of a new irrigation dis
trict which in turn can conceivably
call for the formation of another
new road district. the Edinburg ter
ritcry will enter upon 1880 with the
brightest Of prospects for a most
successful year.
"A live Chamber OF Commerce, cou-
pied with a progressive city admin
istration promises TO see that Edin-
burg is prominent In newspaper
datelines during the coming twelve
months.
Development Of suburban terri
tory has occupied the attention Of
Edinburg business men and others
during 1929 as the as the city's de-
velopment In 1926, when building
permit totals exceeded Sl,250.000. is
somewhat stabilized. With the estab-
lfshment Of the Edinburg Junior
college and a highly rated public
school system, serving the largest
school district in the world, urban
progress may be allowed TO receive
less attention while the extensive
outlying districts are made to feel
effects Of the march OF progress.
1000 Acres Planted
With citrus tree planting In the
Edinburg irrigation district proper
now totaling approximately 1000
acres and with plans made for the
planting Of additional thousands OF
acres before spring OF 1880, the Edin-
burg section viii take its place be-
fore the passage Of many years with
the greatest citrus sections Of the
country. Land development compa-
MES are opening up the rich dry
lands and irrigated lands near the
city by the thousands Of acres and
as rapidly as laborers car clear away
the ce~ntury-old accumulation Of ty-
pical Rio Grande brush.
The annual citrus census taken by
the Valley division Of the United
States Department OF Agriculture
shows that paintings in the Edin-
burg district increased during 1928
by l96.804 trees. thereby ranking the
Pharr-Edinburg district second
among Valley sections in point OF
citrus paintings. The 1929 total shows
paintings numbering 859,906 trees
as compared with the 1928 total OF
663, l02 trees.
Edinburg's irrigation district Is
one Of the larger in the Valley. COM
priSing IS 1898 acres Of irrigable land.
of which approximately 10000 acres
are now being irrigated. The Edin-
burg district. officially known as
Hidalgo County Water Control &
Improvement District NO. i, pion-
eered in the science Of gravity irri-
CATION in this section and the en-
tire district is o irrigated by wa
ter lifted from the Rio Grande at a
point near Penitas. many miles TO
the west. This one pump lifts the
water from the river and 1t flows en-
tirely by gravity to all sections Of
the district, eliminating costly ex-
penditures involved through the use
Of a second lift pumping plant and
plant crew.
Seepage problems in 1927 led Of
ficials and residents Of the district
to seek some solution TO the was
tage OF approximately 90 per cent
Of the water pumped from the Rio
Grande for irrigation purposes. In
1927. a 81, 500, 900 bond issue was vo-
ted to concrete all canals in the dis
trict and at the present time. much
Of this work has been completed. II
will be carried TO speedy completion
and a high degree OF efficiency and
economical operation OF the district
Will have been achieved when this IS
done.
The newly created Hidalgo Coun-
ty water Control & improvement
district No. IL, recently authorized
0y the county commissioners court,
IS the second largest IN the Valley
and by COMPARISON with the combln-
ed Hioalgo and Willacy county pro
I IEGL near 4AG4AAAC444N A&~t ~ ~0~ -
ond largest in the world, comprising
b 1884 acres.
Announcement has been recently
made that construction Of the pump
ing plant on the Rio Grande, dig
ging OF canals, construction OF stru-
ctures necessary to building the Ca
nal system ana other work will be-
gin as soon as the State board c.
water engineers has approved IT,
The system Will be similar TO the
present system Of the Hldalgo Coun-
" Water Control a. improvement
District No. /, which the new dis
trict will adjoin on the south, one
pump being constructed on the
banks Of the Rio Grande and the
water flowing by gravity TO all sec
tons Of the district. Concrete lined
canals will be used and the total
expenditure is expected TO approx
mate $4,000, 900.
Development OF this district will
open up a vast new section parti-
Gu -ly adaptable TO the growth CT
citrus and winter truck crops. IL
probably will result in increased fac
! ilitieS for the handling Of citrus and