The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-05-18
Valuable information
CAMERON COUNTY:

4 49,
Grande en-, the south aud has about
LOO miles eff gulf coast as its eastern
boundary. 1t was organised in 1Sa8,
ard contains 1908 square miles.
Farming and stock raising are the
principal Industries of the people.
the location, climate and soil being
admirably adapted for both. The
greater portion of the soil is rich
iaom, and produces an exceedingly
heavy yield of both cotton and corn.
the chief farm products Two, and
sometimes three crops of corn, aver
aging from fifty to seventy bushels
per acre, are raised yearly, while
cotton will easily yield from one to
two bales per acre: Grasses grow
all the year, and stock find pastur-
age without being fed or sheltered
during the winter. But the soil and
climate of the Lower Rio Grande
Valley are by nature best adapted
for the production of vegetables and
fruits. Vegetables of all kinds grow
ell the year around, and northern
people are astonished to find toma-
toes, lettuce. spinach, English pease,
etc., served fresh from the gardens
in midwinter. This is undoubtedly
the paradise of truck gardeners. and
so soon as rail transportation is OBJ
| tanned Cameron county vegetables
by the car load will be shipped to
northern markets during winter aud
early spring, and will obtain the
highest prices, as there will he no
competition. This is due to our ex
ceediugly mild climate. frequently
the entire winter passes without a
single frost, and there is rsrely ever
any cold weather before Christmas.
Fruit culture has not been attempted
in this county on a large scale, but
there is one large banana plantation
on which this delicious fruit yields
most abundantly and in the greatest
perfection. Grapes are also raised
extensively, growing in almost every
yard. They ripen from two to four
weeks earlier than in any other Sec
ton, Many planters here make
all of their own table wines. Oranges
and lemons also grow in profusion,
and this section could easily be made
to rival Florida in the production of
oranges. Sugar cane is also one of
the most important produces of this
valley. Tue Rio Grande plantation
of Mr.. Geo. BrQlay and the Rabbi
Star"k plantation produce great guam
titles of cane, which is all manufac-
tured on the Rio Grande plantation.
Ibis cane makes sugar which is pro-
nounced by experts to be even supe-
rior to the best Louisiana product
Havana tobacco has also proven a
success here, Col. J. G Tucker hav-
ing made some moet successful ex.
perinents with it; his samples were
classed by New York buyers as equal
to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Rio
Grande with its ample flow along
the southern boundary. and numer-
Gus small streams called "arroyos"
and 'resacss."
The population of Cameron county,
according to the census of 1890, is
IL, 424. Brownsville, the county
seat, has population of about 1000.
Peiut Isabel, the seaport of the
county, has about 400 inhabitants.
and Santa Maria. a growing little
iver settlement. has about $50.
Improved lands sell tor from So to
$25 per acre, unimproved Tor from 50
to Sc per acre. The average taxa
BILE value of land is 81. There are
So, 24O acres of school land in the
county. The county has total school
population of 1911, and gives en-
ployment to - teachers The aver
age length of the school term is FIVE
months. The total tuition revenue
received from the State is $4,000.
There are a number of public schools
in the county, sdording ample sdu-
cational advantages.
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