Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-04-30

MEFCEDESY May Twin conn
pletion Of 10 miles Of concreting ON
this years program, the work on
the Mercedes weslaco Irrigation
District Is making q considerable
showing. Two gunite machines are
now at work, and a third machine
Is expected soon. Drainage too Is
making great strides, for when a
drainage gets to work, the dirt be-
gins 10 move.
On Jan. ! the newly created Mer-
cedes- Weslaco Irrigation District
took over the maintenance and op-
Grafton Of the system formerly opeT-
hted and owned by the American
Rio Grande Land & Irrigation
Company, comprising almost 81 900
acres Of land. The Board OF d.
rectors Of the District selected Mr..
r. 5. Fessenden. an engineer OF
many years experience in irriga-
ton work in the southwestern Unit
ed States. Since that time other n
Gineers. experienced in various
lines OF work, have been added to
the force, with q view 70 expediting
as much as possible the construc-
ton program. Lining some Of the
canals was started shortly after
January lst, and excepting for
delays occasioned by unreasonable
weather. has continued steadily
since that time. Some concrete pipe
has been laid in connection with
this lining program, but the great
er portion OF the work has been
Ii the nature OF lining the canals
with gunite. For the benefit OF
those TO whom the name "gunite"
may not be familiar, we will state
that gunite Is one form OF concrete
composed entirely OF cement and
sand which is thoroughly mixed
and then. still in a dry state, car
ried by air pressure through q hose
70 the point OF application. where
i Is mixed with water and shot
into place by pneumatic pressure.
This results in a very dense form
Of concrete, and when reinforced
with wire mesh. makes a very
strong form Of lining.
Method
In most OF the work one bank
OF the earth canal is split open,
then trimmed TO q seml-circular
form. after which the wire mesh
is placed IN position and the gunite
lining shot against the moist earth
so as 20 get a lining at least one
inch in thickness. II would seem
surprising that one bank Of the
canal when opened up this way
would give a canal large enough TO
1rrigate the same amount OF land.
but It must be remembered that
the water will run much faster
IN the concrete lining. due to the
smoothness OF the lining, and the
absence Of weeds, and also that Il
Is not necessary TO provide excess
capacity in order 10 take cars Of
seepage. Then too. the earth can
ais have not been used TO their
full capacity as the irTigators, be-
coming more accustomed 70 farm
ing BY irrigation, are using less
and less water all the time.
Mr. FesSenden states that he
hopes during the present year 20
line one hundred miles OF canal.
or over one-third the total mileage
Of canals on the system, and that
this lining. together with the
drainage program under a viii
take care OF the more pressing
needs OF the system. This work OF
lining IS IN line with the develop
rnent OF irrigation work through
the Valley, where the people are
beginning TO realize that a well
equipped irrigation system able 70
supply the necessary water is iust
as necessary as is up-to-date equip
ment on the farm, and that these
developments must come to the VAL
ley.
Drainage
Drainage Is one OF the important
problems in the Valley. and on the
Mercedes weslaco irrigation dis
trict they are tackling It with both
hands. Four dragline excavators
are owned by the District, which
also owns o Ruth dredger, which Is
used in cutting small local drains.
In addition 10 this, they have con-
tracted with the j. d. George
Construction Company OF Donna
for the use OF one dragline. so that
there ere six machines now at work
on the drains. and since January
LIST they have re-cut almost twenty
miles Of old drain and in addition
TO this, have cut fourteen miles OF
rev drains. The District Is partl-
cuiarly fortunate In that two large
main drainage channels cut across
the District. thus r-aki-g II much
easier 70 secure outlets for the
drainage thar II IS for some OF the
other systems II the VALLEY.
A dragline Is not a thing ot
beauty. rc- does 1t cut q pretty
ditch with smooth sides cn1 = nice
Nven pile or dirt alongside the ditch.
Aut when r. comes 20 n proposition
Of vorz,nr r. mud OF water where