Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-22
Will ENDOW
COLLEGE WITH
CITRUS LAND
Baylor Of Bolton Gets
200 Acre Tract 70
Secure Million Dol
lars In Ten Years

Lower Rio Grande Valley citrus
fruit viii provide a million dolla-
endowment for Baylor Of Bolton.
Texas famous school for girls. &C
cording to plans OF officials Of that
institution.
The plan was conceived over "A
wear ago. and its naturalization IS
well under way. Approximately $50
acres have been set to citrus fruit
trees. with approximately SO acres
to be planted this season. making a
solid block of 200 acres which Is ex-
pected To have IA value OF si.OO0,00O
within ten years
The lands secured for the citrus
fruit endowment are located north
east of Edinburg. and were recently
Included In the Edinburg irrigation
district upon application OK the coll
lege and receipt OK "a permit from
the state board OF water engineers.
Construction of the canals. all to be
concrete lined. started several weeks
ago and will be completed this fall.
Purchase and development OK the
land vas made possible by dona-
tons from leading BaptistS in ali
Darts of the state. The acreage,
which was not included In the irri-
cation district and which was All m
brush. was secured at a very low
price. and development Of the tract
started Immediately. The major
part Of the acreage was cleared last
ran and planted 10 citrus fruit dur
inc the winter. "a managers home,
a substantial structure, and other
necessary buildings were erected
near the center OF the tract.
UNIQUE Endowment Plan
Announcement Of the plan was
made after officials Of the famous
college had made a thorough inves-
tiqation Of the citrus fruit industry
In California. They ascertained
that many or the ~20-year-Old citrus
fruit groves IN that state were val
ued at $4,000 per acre. and were
producing returns which Justified
that valuation.
Investigation or the industry TN
the Lower Rio Grande Valley re-
vealed that Valley trees were pre-
ducing a better quality Of fruit, and
that the production OF young trees
indicated they would bear more
prolifically than those Of Califor-
MIA when they reached the mathre
age of 20 years. Officials Of DQe
| college also ascertained that they
could secure very desirable citrus
fruit land IN the Valley NO IA low
price. and the campaign was inme-
diately inaugurated TO finance the
miliion-dollar citrus fruit endoW-
ment plan. The necessary funds
were secured without delay. and I'M
less than 18 months after the COZ
lege secured the tract the entire
acreage is expected to be set 70 cit
rus fruit.
The tract. which has n very uni
form soil. well drained, and which.
will be easy to irrigate, has been
pronounced by Valley experts as
ideal for a large block Of citrus
fruit In making the paintings only
Valley grown trees we're used, the
soil being carefully prepared and
the trees set by experts. The irr.-
CATION system, now being installed
will be OF the most approved type.
assuring elimination of seepage and
land damage and high efficiency IN
applying irrigation water.
l. Most Profitable Industry
The survey by college officials re
vealed that the citrus fruit indus
try Is the most profitable branch ~
agriculture, averaging year after
year the highest returns on the in
vestment and amount OF labor i'm
volved. After their survey they
reached the conclusion that III Cali
fornia citrus land attained a valua-
ton of $4,000 per acr in ten years
Lower Rio Grande Valley land,
which produces superior fruit at "A
lower cost, should attain "a value Oi
at least $4,000 per acre within ten
years. In reaching this conclusion
they pointed out that many OF the
older groves of the Valley are al-
READY 1ELhAnn Which, AAIlI
than justify the $1,000 per acre
valuation.
What the college officials will do
with the acreage at the end OF the
ten year period has not been de-
initely decided. It IL believed that
the college will retain the property
as, according 10 estimates Of ex-
perienccd growers, the income from
the orchard when IL reaches mature
axe would be greatly In exces "a
the interest 1t would be possible f0i
the institution TO derive from a nil
lin dollar investment.
Several other institutions in Tex
as are understood I'd be watching
with great interest the development
Of the plan inaugurated by Texa:
Baptist leaders. The Texas Univcr-
sity Ks richly endowed with ui
lands which are proving "a STEADY
source OF income; but an endow'
ment Of citrus fruit may provide
far richer source Of income thar
the oil lands.