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The
recently restored Hidalgo Pumping Station
TE Photo 2001 |
Hidalgo
Pumping Station in operation with two original smokestacks
Photo courtesy Museum
of South Texas History |
The Hidalgo Pumping Station and irrigation canal
Robert Runyon Collection, Center
for American History, UT Austin |
Hidalgo Pumphouse
Historic Marker Text "The
semi-arid Lower Rio Grande Valley was productive only for cattle grazing until
several steam-powered irrigation systems were established in the early 20th century.
In 1909, a steam pump was built here to channel Rio Grande water to about 40,000
acres of land. The Louisiana-Rio Grande Canal Company installed additional equipment
in 1911-12 to increase production to the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo area. Sold to the
Hidalgo County Water Improvement District in 1920, the pump plant continued in
operation until 1983, when an all-electric plant opened downstream. (1989)" |
Hidalgo,
Texas ForumAnyone
wishing to share history, stories or photos of Old Hidalgo, Texas, please contact
us. |
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