Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-01-05
PHARR SECTION
HAS BIG YEAR
Many Developments Figure
In Great Irrigation
District

JudQ-AldIlO q l6JIlCI, kIlONn III
many localities of the United States
as the section boasting the largest
irrigation district in the world with
all concrete-lined canals as we'll as
the largest concrete pipe plant IN
the world. has experienced growth
Of a substantial and permanent
nature during 1929.
Work on the big concrete pipe
plant was completed during 1929
and the work of laying and INSTALL
ing the system to the scattered
sections OF the district has been
pushed with all haste.
Big Bonds Voted
The district voted q bond issue
OF IS, ,O00 this year after u
board OF directors and engineers OF
the Pharr-San Juan-Elamo olstrlct,
known officially as Hidalgo County
Water Control g. improvement DIS
trict No. =. had made an automoolle
tour Of inspection OF many systems
in the west and their proposals were
passed and approved by the district.
The use Of concrete pipe makes OBJ
solete the usual open canals and the
district now uses only about "a miles
Of these.
The district actually owns about
IS acres of ground near the main
plant located near San Juan and
which Is used as a curying yard. as
well as all equipment for making
and installing the pipe.
A. Van Dresar, general manager
OF the district. has associated with
him in overseeing manufacture and
installation Of the giant six and
seven-foot sections Of pipe Henry
Tellyer, installation expert who in
stalled several Of the largest systems
now used in the west. About Is
months will be needed TO complete
the work which is progressing as
fast as the two pipe plants can turn
out the product and crews OF work
men can place II in TIE ground.
Big Pipe Used
The larger pipe weighs about 5000
pounds while the small size weighs
more than 5000 pounds. a fast
crew lays 90 feet of this giant pipe
per day. each joint being six feet
IN length. Special equipment is
required for the handling Of these
monstrous pieces of underground
pipe.
The two pipe plants. the larger
Of which is an old cotton compress,
produce about 5000 TO 5000 feet Of
pipe per day. and it will manufac-
ture more than 800 miles Of pipe
ranging in diameter from 70 inches
down 10 10 inches. More than B.
OOO.O 600 square feet Of concrete will
be necessary to line the "a miles OF
open canals still in use after the
ultimate completion OF pipe syS-
TEN.
Pharr-San Juan-Elama irrigation
district includes mere thar T4'OoO
acres Of land. 81 which approxi-
mately $1,000 acres are under II
rication. Property Of the district
is valued at 81, 800 900.
Much Building
Combined building permits OF
these three typical Lower RIO
Grande Valley cities total more
than 100000 for 1929 and exceed
bv several thousand dollars the TO-
tai for 1928. The Alamo total o.
sl43,775 greatly exceeds that Oh 80
a total of which Is unavaliaole
This amount Is divided as follows
business structures: new. ?, Value
col 600. remodled. G, value s6.OOO.
residences: new. 25. value, SlO0,oOO:
remodled, 8. value S8275. Included
among the residences were the
Southland Development company
new SOS. 900 clubhouse. the me%
$4,000 Community Church, 2 SooOo
Downs nome, the $500 Baker IT,
.;dence Among the business houses
we're the $4,000 Humble on q re
timing company's service station, tie
rev. home Of the First State DalLA
~ Alamo and the $4,000 Whaieh
pnarr building permits totaieo
e,e Ta4 as compared with a total q
1000 for 1928. Included IN the
soo amount were a $4,000 schooi
t,,;Idiog and a $4,000 home. buSl-
zee structures: new. I. va.ue ~,
aso remodled, 3. value s4oo.
sidences: new, IL .s,tsoace
nodded. II, value. slo2s. c-,ld
San Juan building pernhl1I
o,,lv be estimated as no aCn,ate
ohact was obtainable. An -
- nv a city Official totale0 aP-
Ultimately $4,000 during
2S44 Scholastlcs nal
can Juan Alamo SLY,
a,rsct has enrolled a total %
olses,;cs and the district mas q
~,no the year 1929, ap-
p~eennsmateiv $50. 900 on new ou4N
ines and Improvements o..-,c. No.
inES daIco County Road Distrlci ~
. which includes all o. tn navinq
.ract Is buslly engaged y tbat
shost as miles Of the roaos ssso ooo.
saction A bond issue OF T,orv
made the work possible. Ell
ns Ian and orchard in the tracv W.
iainl .h;n "a Of 4 mile Of paved
- when this extensive pfosi"
.hou have been completed.
Build Roads
pha~r-San Juan dlstrlCl'
;sinc Road District NC. s., :
completing paving Of about o. 80
~ roads in that district wnlon
made possible by a bono Isue
aho,,t ss5oO00. Nearly every ram
= The district will be within a lev
minutcs OF a paved road Whei "'
nroQram is completed. eaa
Three banks of the pharr-9sn
,,an-Alamo district indicate the
S~;ranciai strength and staoiiity OF
the section. AT the last bank car,
-.ts,enents of the three institutions
shoucd more than sl,o7l.i0o in de-
nos,ts and resources Of more than
81, 1890 -
Southland DEVELOPMENT Cola
by c. H Swa4o" OF