Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-07-21

FOR 6 MONTHS
Sl2,OOO,OOO
Part Of Total
Consists of Resi-
dences; Irriga
Systems Start
By H. G.. STILWELL. Jyr.

months Of this year in general de-
velopment activity in the Lower Rio
Grande Valley.
This is indicated in a summary
Of development throughout the VAL
ley just completed.
1t includes four general types Of
development. First is construction
OF buildings proper-homes, schools,
commercial buildings, etc. The to-
tai Of this building runs between
$2,500,000 and 100000 in the VAL
ley as a whole.
Second is highway construction.
which is between $3,000,O 900 and So
100000 for the Valley, counting only
the work that has been actually
done, and not that which is con
tracted.
Third is irrigation work. which
perhaps leads all other in the VAL
ley, ranking about even Or a little
ahead of highway construction.
The fourth general class of de-
VeIopmenG work is railroad, power
companies and general improve
menu, such as clearing of land, etc,
IN the opening Of new territory In
this section. This total is placed
az approximately $1,000, 900.
Building permits issued in the va
rlouS cities Of the Valley show the
exact amounts OF building, with the
exception Of streets, public improve
ments.
The larger cities Of the Valley
snow an almost equal amount. RIM
nlng around 100000 ito S25O,OOO.
Cities Even
brownsville, San Benito. Her1in-
gen and McAllen are practica11v
even IN building permit totals. with
MISSION, Mercedes, Weslaco and Ed
lnpurg only a trifIe behind.
Inc permits issued in these cities
snow a total Of building already
StarIed or completed, Of around So
UUO'OOO. In addition there is An.
other million dollars worth Of h1,i1d-
ing winch IS already contracted for
OF financed, but not included IN tha
permits. This building includes
Such structures as the 5000 mn HarS
llngen high school building for
winch contract has already been
~ DuC permit not taken out be-
Iore July 1, the 100000 high school
ouldlng at San Benito which is
oelng planned, and other similar
structures throughout the Valley.
An unusually large part of the
general construction Of the Valley
Ior n first six months of this
year consists of residences, indicate
Ing a movement on the part ~
newcomers to become homeowners
IN the Valley.
The commercial building includes
an unusual number of medium
slbed buildings, particularly strIc-
lures for industrial and manufsc-
turing plants.
Three ice factories, costing around
$4,000 each, have been erected.
at Brownsville, Harlingen and Nc
Alien. Two citrus fruit packing
plants, costing around 100000
each, are being started, one being
az La Fer1a, and the other at Nc
Allen.
Garages. store buildings. ware
houses and other buildings of a
commercial nature, ranging in
price from $4,000 to $4,000. have
gone up throughout the Valley DUR
ing the first six months Of the
year, filling in the gaps between
the somewha tlarger buildings al
ready erected.
Building Uniform
The building permit records show
that construction work has been
uniform and steady throughout the
section.
The Valley at present is Witness
| inc q nnNind nf nr-nAz-+ --A..A-- .-
It's history in both highway and ir-
rlgatlon construction and Develop
ment.
Cameron county spent a million
dollars on road construction work
the first six months Of the year,
while Willacy spent almost equal
amount, and Hidalgo county spent
as much or more.
A network of paved highways is
gradually taking form in the VAL
ley section, which will furnish a
paved highway to every farm sec
ton in the Valley. New outlets to
the north and west also are being
furnished in paving that is being
done.
The three counties will spend az
much during the remainder Of the
year as they have the first six
months Of the year.
In irrigation development the
greatest expenditures are taking
place in concreting of the irriga-
ton systems now in the territory,
and in the installation of the new
systems.
Such projects as the S7,500,O0O ir.
rigation project in Willacy county.
which has been started, and the
J.. T. Franklin project in Ridalgo
county, which will involve an eX.
penditure Of close to $4,000, 600
will take the irrigation expenditures
Of the Valley far into the millions
However, they are not listed in the
development totals for this year
since work has just been started
on one of them, the Willacy project
This project if counted, would bring
the total in the Valley to around
$19, 100000 in development expendi-
lures contracted for this year.
Many Water Systems
Other irrigation districts in the
Valley are carrying out extensive
concrete programs. A large mum.
Der Of new districts, in the eastern
part of Cameron county, and IL
parts Of HidalgO county, are nov