The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-16

Of civilization, which administer to the creature
comfort, as well as adorn the face Of nature. But
who could have expected less from people SO
proverbisl for their enterprise as the universal
The rapid growth and present prosperity OF the
city of Brownsville is without parallel IL was
surveyed and laid out into lots IN August, 1873,
little over two years ago, and now numbers IN the
neiphborhood OF four thousand inhabitants. IL is
located on the Rio Grande, about eighty miles
above its mouth by way of the river nearly oPpo-
site Matamoras. AT the present time Brownsville
is doing quite an extensive commercial business,
principally with the interior of Mexico, upon
which many are of opinion its future pros
perity depends, and that when this business
diverted to some other depot, this place will re-
trograde about as rapidly as il progressed This may
be correct, yet cannot see that this trade with the
interior OF Mexico will ever be diverted from this
line OF transportation, as II is as cheap, safe, and OF
as easy access as any other There always has
been quite an extensive trade carried along this
line, and there is no inducement to change it
now, unless Mexico should make some of her
ports duty free, an act she is not likely to COM
nit AT present, most of the goods for this
market are shipped by way of the Gulf to Brazos
ST. lago, carried in lighters, or light draft boats,
across the bay. which is too shoal for vessels
OF large size, distance OF four or hive miles,
TO Point Isabel, and thence conveyed in carts and
wagons to this city, which, as matter of course,
makes business here, as this mere handse has, ne
ssarily, TO be stored and reshipped on board OF
light draft boats TO Roma and Rio Grande City.
was located on the east bank Of the Rio Grande,
goods were deposited at Matamoras, and thence
conveyed on pack males into the interior. ltmay be
asked, why this overland transportation, by way of
Point Isabel when the river is open TO free naviga
ton! il is in consequence OF the difficulty and
danger attendant upon crossing the bar at the
mouth of the river The steamers that ply between
New Orleans and BraZos 81. lago, and other heavy
draft vessels, could not this bar, and the
chorage is not considered safe owing the preva-
lence of norhers. AT any rate, if they were to
even run up to the mouth, instead Of into the har-
Dor at BraZos, the freight would have TO be
transferred from the large classed vessels TO
the light draft boats plying between Brazos st.
lago and this place. In consequence of their making
BraZos the port Of entry, boats RAINING the river
have to run distance of nine miles from the
mouth in order TO get into the Brazos harbor; and
even here boats are often endangered during a
rough sea, in crossing the bar at the entrance of the
bay, which seldom has more than eight feet water.
This defect in transportation, think, will now be
remeded IN a great measure. Some of our enter
prisDg river have brought out two fine, staunch
built boats, (Grampus and Comanche0 for this
trade, one to ply between BraZos St. Iago and this
place, and the other between this and Rio Grande
City. Shippers can now send their merchandise by
way OF the river, and thus prevent their being
posed TO almost tropical sun, while being convey
ed i'll carts and wagons distance Of thirty miles
Some are OF opinion that this operation will nJure
Brownsville, by throwing out of employ those en-
gagged in this overland transportation. This is a
mistake. But a small portion of the earnings Of
those thus engaged finds its way into our
city. They need not remain inactive, and la y
down and starve, because they are deprived OF
the poor privilege OF geadng through the heat
and dust, lot of halt starved oxen, that are
scarcely tit for crow-bait Let them take their
cattle and engage in the cultivation of the soil,
which IS far more lucrative, independent and ho-
norable That this change will affect the receipts
for customs at Point Isabel is quite certain. But
while II reduces them there il will increase them
here, which our deputy collector will not object
TO. The merchandise will be stored here the same
hAV fkat 81.
will not affect the business Of this city in that re-
gard; but il will be death to Poiu, Isabel.
Ii is quite true that Brownsville Is indebted TO
the extensive traffic with Mexico for its present
prosperity; whether il will continue thus depend
ent, or whether that dependence is reliable, the flu
ture alone determine. If is settled that
this valley is not adapted to cultivation, and that
Brownsville can never have surrounding country,
nhabitedby industrious ters of the soil then it will
be apparent TO every that its future prosperity is
based on very precarious tenure. Such, think
will not be the result Of fair test. have con-
suited some of the Oldest inhabitants, who have
had experience enough TO enable them to judge
correctly, and they give il their opinion that
the soil Of this valley, when planted in season, will
produce per annum one good crop Of corn, cotton,
,ake no extended vision 10 fofesee what Browns
vile will be, independent Of the trade with
Mexico. i have not been in this section long
enough 10 test the correctness OF the foregoing
opinion, or 10 observe the seasons. But OF one
thing | am fully satis6ed-that liz, if this soil is
not adapted TO the culture OF corn, cotton sugar.
II does and will produce glorious crops Of castor
beans; in fact, the spontaneous growth Of this
plant is the most luNuriant have ever witness
] do not know, but think 1t might be made profit
able product.
| have now given brief outline of the pre-
sent and future prospects Of the city Of Browns
VILE and surrounding country, drawn from the
best sources Of information within my reach.
season Of the year. The smallpox in rather a
light form, is prevailing TO some extent. Business
10 quite dull, from causes which | will give in
another number. Since the inhibition Of landau
goes, the hanging Of one or two outlaws, and the
removal Of number Of desparadoes from our
miost, city has become,peaceable, quiet and
Derby, and would pass for the habtation Of civil
lied people. A SrRAeoLER.