FARMING IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE DISTRICT. 21 
for these bonds. Under this method the landowners become the 
owners of the irrigation systems and operate them through their own 
representatives. 
There are many instances where for various reasons water has not 
been furnished. This has caused considerable loss to the farmers 
and accounts to some extent for the withdrawal of many farmers 
from the region. Many of those who have moved away have lost 
considerable portions of their original investments. 
While the prices paid by the districts for the irrigation systems 
are frequently high, the operation of the plants by the farmers 
themselves will doubtless insure water to the farmers with much 
greater certainty than has been customary in the past. 
LAND TITLES AND PRICES. 
Title to the land of the region was in general originally derived from 
the Spanish and Mexican Governments. Grants of many thousands 
of acres with a frontage on the Rio Grande were ceded to individuals 
before Texas became a part of the United States, and title to much 
of this land has never existed in the name of the State of Texas or 
of the United States. In opening for settlement, options were 
secured on the land and sometimes titles from the descendants of 
the original grantees. Land companies were organized for the 
purpose of reselling the land to actual farmers. A complete chain 
of title to this land is usually furnished by the companies for the 
purpose of examination by intending purchasers. It is possible to 
have these titles guaranteed by companies authorized to act under 
the laws of Texas. As soon as the irrigation companies had installed 
the pumping plants and provided sufficient canals so that even small 
quantities of water could be supplied, the land was placed on the 
market. By means of advertising in many other parts of the United 
States farmers and others are induced to come to the region to 
buy land. 
Prices vary considerably under different companies, ranging from 
about $100 to $300 per acre for raw land. These prices pay for the 
water contracts as above described. Individuals outside of the com- 
panies hold land at from $40 to $75 per acre, but these lands do not 
always carry contracts for delivery of water by the irrigation 
companies. 
Land may be rented either on the share basis or for cash at very 
reasonable rates, considering the price of land. Many farms have 
been operated by cash tenants for the consideration of from $3 to 
$10 per acre. The average cash rent for land, as estimated by 59 
farmers of the area, is approximately $7 per acre. 
