Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-01-06
]. {. ENCELMAN
Land TO FORM
into DISTRICT
Hidalgo No. 10 Will
Secure Water Sup
ply From Donna and
Pharr Drainage

Organiztaion OF hidalgo county ;
tenth irrigation district, embracing
the J. c. Engelman lands, approx
mately 5000 acres in the southern
part Of the Mestenes tract, Is under
way, and creation of the new district
is expected to be completed early
this year.
The district will be unique in that
IL will receive its irrigation water
from the drainage Of the Donna and
Pharr-San JUan-Alamo irrigation
districts. A reservoir for conserva-
ton Of this drain water has been
completed and Connection made with
the drain outlet. Installation of the
pumping plant. which will lift the
water from the drain outlet to the
reservoir. is under way. The entire
acreage will be watered by gravity
from the reservoir.
Plans for the irrigation system
were made by a. Tamm, Hariingen
engineer. Approximately 30 per cent
Of the distribution will be through
concrete pipe. and the canals for the
remainder will be concreted. Water
will be delivered to each 40-acre
block, and the major part of the field
distribution systems will also be
pipe.
According TO estimates OF engin-
GERS the drainage flow from the
10000 acres comprising the two irri-
cation districts for which the Engel-
man project provides the drain out
let, will be more than sufficient to
supply the irrigation needy Of the
new district. The reservoir, which
has a capacity of 1000 here feet will
serve to conserve the supply. The
drainage connection with tho Donna
district. completed several months
ago, provides sufficient flow 20 handle
the major part of the acreage, and
when connections with the Tharr-San
Juan-Alamo district is comr leted the
volume will be greatly augmented.
The drainage canal provides an out
let for both the seepage and surface
waters Of the two districts. and in
event Of a surplus il can be dis
charged into the north ~floodway.
Propose Bond Issue
Financing of the project has been
handled by the developer, but a bond
issue Of approximately 100000 is
proposed rs soon as organization Of
the district Is completed. However,
work on the irrigation will not be de-
layed pending voting Of bonds. In
stallation of the pumping plant.
which will use n 14-inch motorized
pump, is now under way, and the re-
servoir will be filled as soon as this
work is completed. Construction of
the distribution system from the re-
s~ervoir will also be started imme-
diately, il was announced. The plans,
approved by the state board of water
engineers, contemplate construction
Of approximately 35 miles Of pipe line
in the distribution system and sew
eral miles OF concrete lined canals.
Development Of the acreage began
over two years ago. and approximate
ly z miles of highway within the
district will be paved by Hidalgo road
district No. /, grading for the paving
having been completed on part of
this mileage. The Eneelman club
house, located on the highest point
on the tract and visible for several
miles, is one of the show places of
central Hidalgo county. the struc-
lures having been completed shortly
after development Of the acreage got
under way.
A Citrus Project
The entire acreage will he devoted
TO citrus fruit, according 10 an
nouncement Of the developer. APP
rroximzteiy $500 acres ave been
plsnted to fruit, some Of the trees
being two years of sge- From n
club house solid blocks Of thrifty or
chards stretch in all directions. r.
riration for the young trees has been
supplied By tank wagon and accord
ING ~ the nlans Of the developer ir-
riration will he supplied before late
summer for sll acreage planted
Paintings are agsin under way. and
will be continued without cessation
until April. Approximately 100
acres will he planted this season, II
Is estimated, bringing the total to ap-
rroximHtelv 5000 acres. Heavier
paintings arc forecast for next year
When the irrigation system y com
pieted. and the entire acreage - ex-
rcrtei ~ Re set ~ citrus fruit within
three years.
Over 1000 acres have already been
cold. the major mart Of which has
been planted TO fruit under a con-
tract with the developing company
10 maintain the acreage until n
trees come into bearing. No sales
will he made. the developer en-
nounced. without the maintenance
clause in the contract. thereby assur-
ing each acreage will have the hene-
fit az the experience II the corps 81
experts who are handling the work.
ard further assuring cry uniform
groves throughout the entire acre
age.
Use Deep Tiilinx
The entire acreage is handled IN
der the deep filling method. The
lsnd is cleared Of brush and the csc-
tus worked into the soil with a spe-
Continued on mage two.)