Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-01-05

The Manufacture OF concrete pipe
for purposes Of irrigation and
drainage has become a most i'm
portant industry in the Lower Rio
Grande Valley, there being at least
six complete plants operating at
the time in order to supply the ever
increasing demand. The Mercedes
Concrete Pipe company Of MERGED
es established a plant in McAllen
last year and is developing an ex-
tensive business in this territory,
according 10 officials OF the COM
pany.
Concrete pipe offers many ad-
vantageS over other methods OF ir-
rigation. according TO Mr.. w. +.
Shaw. General -anager Of the Mer
cedes Concerto Pipe compan He
states that a very considerable saw
ing in water Is effected because
leakage and wastage are practical
~ eliminated. This saving in wa
ter alone is often sufficiently great
to represent the difference between
profit and loss on an investment.
Few farmers realize, according TO
Mr.. Shaw. the huge quantities OF
water required to properly irrlgatc
a field or orchard using he old
style flood system CT irrigation. Due
to the fact that Valley soil IS fine
and rather loose. it ahsorbs a
tremendous amount OF water. A
fairly large stream may be turned
on a given section. particularly af-
ter cultivation, and II will be no.
ticed that II travels only a few
feet before being entirely soaked
up BY the thirsty soil.
Flood Style
Under the flood-style system Of
irrigation a farmer simply opens a
lateral and permits the water to
flood his field or orchard, keeping
sufficient pressure behind the flow
10 carry the water to all sections.
Very often the flow is diverted BIZ
sections or zones which Is some
what more economical. but takey
more time in constructing burrows
and banking.
The old system has many de-
fects besides the waste Of water.
l. Is apparent that in order to
water a row OF tire or a field crop
it is necessary - use many times
more water than the orchard or
truck actually requires. It IS also
obvious that loL places will receive
too much water and high spots in
the land will be left practically or
completely arid. In Citrus culture.
either OF these extremes is harm
ful TO trees and inevitably results
in decreased production and stunt
cd growth. and sometimes in the
early death OF the trees affected.
Much Land Used
Irrigation bitches and laterals
occupy much valuable land. and
present a most unSightly appear
ance. They harbor noxious weeds
and make complete pest control al
most impossible in a field or grove
II seepage takes place from canals
an laterals, additional land Is
lost 70 productive use and becomes
water-logged. In such cases II NAV
De a considerable period before
such land can be fully reclaimed
even after the seepage Is stoned.
Embankmen.s along canals occuDv
several feet on each side, and often
fences are required.
All OF these considerations Mr..
shaw stated, have led TO an in
creaslns demand for a more eff
Gent type Of irrigation. and farm
FRS in every part OF the Valley are
turning 10 concrete ripe as the an
sVer 10 this problem.
When a concrete pipe system Is
installed. canals and laterals are
eliminated. Evaporation Is reduced
% a minimum. Seepage is stopped.
Valuable land Is reclaimed and may
De placed in trees or cultivation.
bitches may be filled and weed
patches completely eliminated. Wa
ter is always under complete con-