Hidalgo County, Texas:Records of wells, driller's logs, water analyses, and map showing location of wells (open access)

Hidalgo County, Texas:Records of wells, driller's logs, water analyses, and map showing location of wells

Data complied regarding wells and other water resources, including water quality analysis, measurements, and other relevant information.
Date: May 1941
Creator: Texas Board of Water Engineers
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lower Rio Grande Valley Region: Research Goal and Impact (open access)

Lower Rio Grande Valley Region: Research Goal and Impact

This report describes research grants, projects, and progress toward goals at the Texas A&M Agrilife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco.
Date: 2015
Creator: Texas A & M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Auto Body (open access)

Auto Body

Patent for an invention made for the improvements of the auto body and provide a way to convert a motor vehicle body to a comfortable bed with a foldable cushion for the back seat.
Date: September 16, 1919
Creator: Lawrence, John & Whitton, Orvil C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Chain-Tightening Tool (open access)

Chain-Tightening Tool

Patent for a tool for tightening automobile wheel chains that is "simple in construction and may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost" (lines 14-16).
Date: August 27, 1918
Creator: Ruthven, George W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Necktie-Holder (open access)

Necktie-Holder

Patent for improvements to necktie-holders, particularly to prevent the neck-tie from sliding down toward the lower portion of the collar.
Date: April 21, 1921
Creator: Potter, Arthur C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Orchard-Heat or Smudge-Pot (open access)

Orchard-Heat or Smudge-Pot

Patent for a new and useful improvement in orchard-heaters and smudge-pots to provide an improved drat flue and damper carried by a cap especially adapted for use in connection with heaters or crude oil smudge pots commonly used in various orchards during frosty weather. The invention aims to provide a draft flue and damper to withstand the most severe and erratic winds, the damper capable of being opened to suit any temperature, without impairing its efficiency in protecting the draft.
Date: October 18, 1921
Creator: Potter, Arthur C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Dredge. (open access)

Dredge.

Patent for an excavating machine specifically designed for canal digging, that "is an improvement upon a patent granted to Charles S. Butterfield, March 13, 197 and numbered 1,219,371" (lines 10-13). This invention provides a means for firm and stable support of the excavating machine and allows the position of the machine to be easily changed as the work progresses.
Date: November 22, 1921
Creator: Evans, Marvin
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Window-Sash Lock (open access)

Window-Sash Lock

Patent for "certain new and useful Improvements in Window-Sash Locks" (lines 5-7). "The object in view is to produce a simple and efficient device..., [which] consists essentially in the provision of means for permitting either sash to be locked or one sash to be partially or fully opened..." (lines 17-22).
Date: July 9, 1918
Creator: Rickel, Tremont W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvements to Auxiliary Clutch-Pedal Lever (open access)

Improvements to Auxiliary Clutch-Pedal Lever

Patent for improvements in Auxiliary Clutch-pedal Levers for tractor foot pedal levers, providing much greater operability when attached, but does not interfere with the driver's use of the pedal in a traditional manner.
Date: December 17, 1919
Creator: Stoltz, Otto W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Submarine-Destroyer. (open access)

Submarine-Destroyer.

Patent for submarine destroyer that is a projectile of the harpoon type adapted to be dropped from an aeroplane with the purpose to destroy a submarine or other vessel.
Date: November 27, 1917
Creator: Garner, William W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Process of Increasing the Quality and Volume of Oil in Wells and Removing the Oil Therefrom. (open access)

Process of Increasing the Quality and Volume of Oil in Wells and Removing the Oil Therefrom.

Patent for a method for drawing a higher quality and grade of oil from a well through the combination with gas trapped in the well.
Date: May 9, 1922
Creator: Hallmark, Elmer C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Game-Retaining Garment (open access)

Game-Retaining Garment

Patent for a garment with detachable areas that allows for the carrying and quick loading of ammunition when hunting game, and is more sanitary and durable than other options.
Date: June 17, 1919
Creator: Cox, Benjamin F.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Safety Top for Cans (open access)

Safety Top for Cans

Patent for a milk can lid which may be locked in place by a spring, and which contains a hollow chamber inside to carry "butter, or other commodities" (lines 62-63).
Date: March 2, 1920
Creator: O'Conner, Paul H. & Hardesty, John F.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Heater. (open access)

Heater.

Patent for a heater, "designed for use in orchards for raising the temperature of the atmosphere at times when frosts or freezing temperature is threatened" (lines 11-14). Illustration included.
Date: November 18, 1919
Creator: Briscoe, Williard H.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Attachment for Plows (open access)

Attachment for Plows

Patent for a plow attachment that is easy to use, does not "require the use of a supplemental beam or handle" (lines 11-12), and can be used with different makes of plows
Date: January 14, 1919
Creator: Nunnally, Robert Bruce
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Land-Surface Subsidence in the Texas Coastal Region (open access)

Land-Surface Subsidence in the Texas Coastal Region

Report on the land-surface subsidence in the Texas coastal region published in agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey. Includes information on the geography and topography of 5 different subregions of the Texas coastand maps of the different areas.
Date: November 1982
Creator: Ratzlaff, Karl W.
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ground-Water Evaluation From Test Hole Drilling Near Mission, Texas (open access)

Ground-Water Evaluation From Test Hole Drilling Near Mission, Texas

Report on a study investigating the the quality of groundwater near Mission, Texas. The study conducted drilling tests in order to test the water at specific strata in the Lower Rio Grande Valley aquifer.
Date: August 1985
Creator: Molofsky, Seth J.
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Evaluation of Ground-Water Resources in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas (open access)

Evaluation of Ground-Water Resources in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas

This report includes studies on critical ground water areas identified by the state water agencies and the findings and recommendations on whether a ground-water conservation district should be established in the respective areas in order to address ground-water problems.
Date: January 1990
Creator: McCoy, Wesley T.
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Governor's Task Force on Border Economic Development: Final Report and Recommendations (open access)

Texas Governor's Task Force on Border Economic Development: Final Report and Recommendations

Final report from the Governor's Task Force on Border Economic Development describing the group's findings and background on the border region of Texas, as well as recommendations for developing the are.
Date: December 1986
Creator: Texas. Border Economic Development Task Force.
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
86th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, House Bill 1019, Chapter 530 (open access)

86th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, House Bill 1019, Chapter 530

Bill introduced by the Texas House of Representatives relating to the authority of certain water districts to exercise the power of eminent domain.
Date: June 10, 2019
Creator: Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives.
Object Type: Legislative Document
System: The Portal to Texas History
86th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, Senate Bill 891, Chapter 606 (open access)

86th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, Senate Bill 891, Chapter 606

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the operation and administration of and practice in and grants provided by courts in the judicial branch of state government; increasing and imposing fees; creating a criminal offense.
Date: June 10, 2019
Creator: Texas. Legislature. Senate.
Object Type: Legislative Document
System: The Portal to Texas History
85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, Senate Bill 1329, Chapter 912 (open access)

85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, Senate Bill 1329, Chapter 912

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the operation and administration of and practice in courts in the judicial branch of state government; increasing a fee.
Date: June 15, 2017
Creator: Texas. Legislature. Senate.
Object Type: Legislative Document
System: The Portal to Texas History
85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, House Bill 1234, Chapter 781 (open access)

85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, House Bill 1234, Chapter 781

Bill introduced by the Texas House of Representatives relating to filing fees imposed in civil cases in Hidalgo County and Cameron County.
Date: June 15, 2017
Creator: Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives.
Object Type: Legislative Document
System: The Portal to Texas History
85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, Senate Bill 2227, Chapter 654 (open access)

85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, Senate Bill 2227, Chapter 654

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to an increase in the fee for permits issued for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo in Hidalgo County.
Date: June 12, 2017
Creator: Texas. Legislature. Senate.
Object Type: Legislative Document
System: The Portal to Texas History