Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-24
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nave DSSl JIItQ OuI, CullGIlI OS1ISCC-
ors have been utilized, and while
each have served to some extent the
purpose for which they were de-
signed, they have not attained that
high degree of efficiency desired.
On several occasions irrigation
pumping plants have been threat
ened with transfer to the Mexican
sled of the stream, or to be left
some distance froI the main chan
mel, a situation which would prove
decidedly inconvenient. A rise in
the Rio Grande a few years ago
dill remove the main channel ap-
proximately half a mile from two
of the pumping plants, but the diff
ficultieS of those districts have been
largely overcome by constructing a
channel through which the water is
conveyed from the river to the
pumping plant.
Interest in New Device
Much interest is being manifest
ed by irrigation districts and en-
gineerS in a new system Of bank pro-
tective work which the Los FreSnos
irrigation system has constructed on
the Mexican side Of the stream APP
proXimGtely half a mile south of its
pumping plant. At this point the
river has been steadily eroding the
bank, and a cut of less than 500
feet would change the channel leav-
ing the pumping plant approx
mately half a mile from the stream.
Current defiectOrS proved OF no
avail IN hating erosion, and the
n3W device, known as the Keltner
Jetty, which, according to en-
sgineers, has proved very efficient in
preventing bank cutting on the Mis-
souri,, Colorado and Red rivers,
where conditions are very similar,
is being given a trial. The Struc-
ture consists Of steel members, each
Is feet in length. bolted in threes
to form a SiX-point "SaWbuck".
| These "saWbuckS" are spaced 10
feet apart, the whole being joined
by steel members, cables and wires.
The structure waS completed Tues
day and rolled into the water at the
tee Of the bank, being firmly an
chored.
May Build Up Bank
The function of the structure is
to retard the current and permit
deposits Of sediment and drift to
gradually building up the bank. The
fact that it requires no solid fOun-
dalton is a strong point in its ia
vor, engineers state, pointing out
that most bank protection work
heretofore tried, failed because the
current would wash out underneath
gradually dropping it into the
stream.
The new structure is designed
merely to retard the current and
catch the drift, building up a pro-
lection which is calculated not only
to eliminate bank cutting, but also
to gradually force the current out
ward from the bank. Approximate
" 1000 feet Of the protective work
vas constructed, permission having
been received from the Mexican
government to place it on that side
of the stream.
Engineers who have viewed the
structure express the opinion that
the May or June rise will prove the
efficiency of this type of bank pro-
lection. If it proves effective in pre-
venting further erosion at that
point, several miles of similar pro-
lection will be constructed along the
stream in the Valley this year, en-
gineerS state.
Completion Of the Valleys flood
control system, and construction OF
0ank protection works at various
points will probably solve the prob
lem which has proved more or less
an enigma to engineers for years,
and the Rio Grande, which for cen
turies has poured its floods into the
Gulf, will be forced to %relinquish its
age-old habit Of wandering at will
over the rich delta lands.