Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-22
THOUSANDS OF
ACRESCLEARED
ON new FARMS
Brushlands Disappear
AS Development Ex-
pands In Every Di-
rection

mentS in the South Is that Of the
E0inburg section of the Lower Rio
Grande Valley where a modern city
Of 1000 population now occupies the
center Of an Tx which less than
five years ago wa almost solid
brushland and which today has
thousands of acres planted to Cit
rus fruit and tens OF thousands Of
acres producing cotton, vegetables
or other crops.
The development attained in the
Edinburg section has been one O:
the outstanding features Of Valley
progress in recent years Edinburg.
the county seat Of Hidalgo county.
ten years ago a collection of frame
buildings. is today one Of the most
attractive cities in the South. Build
ings Of the most modern type of
architecture. broad streets and ave-
nueS. all well paved, hundreds or
beautiful homes, parks. highways
and every modern convenience COM
bine to make Il a city OF unusual at
traction.
Back Of this Is a background Of
agricultural ard horticultural de-
velopment. still in its infancy,
which would indicate tina. Edin-
burg Is destined to become the
metropolis OF one Of the greatest
fruit, vegetable and cotton produc-
ing sections Of the South. It is a
city developed upon a solid founda-
tion-the trade center OF n region
of unsurpassed fertility and almost
unlimited potentialities-a founda-
ton upon which men of vision are
building for a prosperous future.
For nearly twenty years the little
county seat town was the center OF
a wilderness Of mesquite and cac-
tus. reached by a spur track rail-
road from San Juan. and a few rut-
ted roads which wound through the
brushlandS-a typical frontier coun-
~ seat-an imposing courthouse in
the center of a square surrounded
by frame stores with a few resi-
dences in the background.
Then came the transformation.
Irrigation systems were extended
into the areas east. west ard south:
a paved highway was built north
from Pharr through Edinburg 10
the north line Of the county, pro-
vidirg a paved outlet for the entire
Valley. the Southern Pacific ex-
tended its line south from Falfuv-
rias through Edinburg to Browns
vile: the Missouri Pacific built west
from Raymondville: paved high
ways were constructed in every Ill
r~ection. and the old-time frontier
town mas been transformed into the
metropolis Of n Of the most rap
idly developing sections of the
South.
Develop NOn-Irrigated Area
To the north Of the city extends
an almost limitless area of non
irrigated land. which is developing
rapidly into n OF the foremost
cotton producing sections Of Texas.
To the cast, west and south lies ar
irrigated area Of almost unlimited
potentialities. where citrus fruit
paintings have reached huge pro-
portions in the past three years
Organization Of new irrigation dis
tricts which Will include the Engei-
man lands to the east. the jackson
and Rctama tracts 10 the west. and
the large areas embraced in the
Franklin project. indicate that
within a few years thousands Of adj
ditional acres in the city's trade
territory will be placed under irri-
CATION to swell the huge tonnage 81
citrus fruits. vegetables ard staple
crops which in the future viii move
out from the shipping sheds and
packing plants.
Intensive cultivation Of the en-
tire irrigated area is indicated By
the class of construction OF the va
rious canal systems have under
way. The Edinburg. Pharr-San
Juan-Alamo. Ergelman and the
Engelman and the Sharyland-Jacls-
son tract systems have each financ-
ed complete concreting of their
canals Every irrigation system
reaching into the Edinburg terri
tory vii be placed under concrete,
with many OF the acreages install
ING concrete pipe distribution. prac-
tiCally assuring intensive develop
mcnt and maximum production 0n
every acre.
Large Citrus Fruit Area
Edinburg IS the center Of what Is
generally conceded one Of the lars-
est solid blocks Of desirable citrus
fruit land IL the United States.
Paintings in the Edinburg irriga-
ton district alone now totals 1900
acres. with over 5000 acres TO ~
planted during the winter. On tie
Eneelman project 20 the cast over
4.000 acres have been planted. and
paintings on the non-irrigateo Sec
tion within the city'S trade terri
cory total owe 1900 acres. The en-
tire Retama tract to the west. ap-
pToximately 1000 acres, and 49,
o00 acres on the Jackson tract al
joining the Retama. Will be de-
veloped a citrus fruit projects rs
soon as irrigation water from ca
mails now under construction Is ap-
piled. With approximately $1,000
acres already planted 70 citrus fruit
within the city's trade territory. I
is expected the paintings will reach
the $4,000 acre mark within three
years. ultimately placing this area
in the front rank among the citrus
producing sections Of the United
States.
Cotton production on the huge
non-irrigated acreage 10 the north
has already reached large propor-
tons with thousands Of acres being
cleared and prepared for planting
next year. Throughout the non
irrigated ares moisture conserva-
ton methods r generally practlced