Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-22
Progreso District Completes Valleys First
ALL Concrete System to WaterLarge Acreage

AaAtLAS % one OF the largest
ucreages Of citrus in the Valley has
been contemplated by the develop
ers OF Progreso HacIendas, former
ly known as the Llano Grande PLAN
taticn. south Of Weslaco, where g.
200 acres have been set TO trees in
two years. Planting Of 1000 acres
additional Is expected to be CON-
pleted this season.
Completion of the Valleys first
Rll-concrete irrigation system is an
other achievement which has mark
ed the development Of this acreage.
pipe lines or concrete canals sup
plying the entire tract planted or
prepared for planting.
Development Of the Progreso pro-
Ject started in the latter part Of
1926. The irrigation district. which
has about 5000 acres irrigable, was
organized in 1925. and taken over
by the Progreso development COM
pany a year later. The major part
OF the acreage was in brush and
clearing Of the land got under way
Immediately. Paintings started in
1927. but did not reach heavy vol
INIT until last season.
The district lies between Llano
Grande lake and the Rio Grandc,
and has a gross acreage of $500.
Approximately 700 acres lie between
Llano Grande lake and the flood
control levees. and this area is be-
ing developed for truck farming.
The entire acreage between the
flood control levees and the river
is being planted to citrus fruit.
Put In Concrete System
Taking over the irrigation system
which formerly watered part of the
lands the developers started imme-
diately on rehabilitation and extern
sions. The main canals have been
lined with concrete, pipe lines dis
tributing to all points. A recent
test indicated that water could be
delivered TO any part Of the acre
age In less than three hours, the
district having a slope which as
sumes maximum efficiency in de-
Iivering. Over $4,000 feet Of the
main canals were lined with con-
crete, and approximately $4,000
feet OF pipe line installed in the
distribution system. Construction
OF pipe distribution for many OF the
orchards is also contemplated.
A complete drainage system, fol-
Lowing the natural drains. has been
constructed with an outlet into the
f1oodway. The efficiency Of the
drainage was proved in June when
"A hours after an 8-inch rain all
surface water had been drained
from the tract.
Two pumping plants have been
Installed, one at the river and the
other on the large lake in the
southern part of The tract, the lat
ter to be used for emergencies only.
The river pump has sufficient ca
pacity to meet any demand Of the
acreage, the emergency pump 10 be
used only in event Of a breakdown
or abnormal low stage Of the Rio
Grande. Both pumps are electri-
cally operated.
Construct Paved Roads
Twenty-eight miles Of roadways
have been constructed. extending
into every section of the acreage.
Eleven miles have been topped and
practically all the remaining mile
age gravcled, topping to be applied
as socn as the gravel is in proper
condition. The road system in
Guides the paving Of the Weslaco
road district which extends north
and south through the Progreso
acreage, two additional north and
south roads, and east and west
roads the width Of the district ev-
cry half mile. The main north u
south paving has been widened 70
40 feet through the Progreso town
site. located on the railroad near
the center of the tract.
structures completed the past
wear include an office building for
the development company, Missouri
Pacific depot, 5-room school, all OF
Spanish design, lumber office and
sheds, and several residences Can
comments for laborers, large Il
conveniently arranged and supplied
with water, lights and sewers. have
been erected adjoining the town.
site.
The principal residential section
will be located on the two lakes III
the southern part Of the tract n
close proximity TO the companyS
clubhouse. Two beautiful homes
already have been erected, and sew
eral additional residences are ex-
pected to be completed this winter.
The lakes, bordered with huge
ebony, blackberry and mesquite
trees, provide a beautiful setting
for homesites. and the frontage on
both lake shas been reserved Tor
this purpose. The clubhouse, 'front.'
ing on the largest lake. Is n Of
the beaut yspots Of the Valley. with
a setting of palms, bananas, citrus
fruit and native trees.
The Progreso company was one
OF the first in the Valley TO employ
the deep tiIling method, and n n
tire acreage has been deep TILED.
Practically all field work Is handled
with tractors, and in preparing for
planting citrus fruit the land Is till
ed to a depth Of Is TO % inches.
Trees are planted at the intersec-
lions. Cover crops have been plant
ed on the land set to trees, this
crop being turned under with a disc
constructed for that purpose which