The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-04-28
Valuable Inflammation
CAMERON COUNTY:

| Cameron County is the extreme
southern county of Texas. 1t is
separated from Mexico by the Rio
Grande on The south aud has about
100 miles of gulf coast as its eastern
boundary. 1t was organized in 1S48.
and contains s3OS 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 tortion of the soil is rich
lsom, 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 City to seventy bushels
pc 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
all the year around, aud 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 and
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 large scale, but
there is one large banana plantation
on which this delicious fruit yields
most sbnndsntfy 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
tiop, 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 products of this
valley. Tue Rio Grande plantation
of Mr.. Geo. BrGlsy and the Rabb-
Stark plantation produce great guam
titles of cane, which is all manufac-
'ured on the Rio Grande plantation.
his cane makes sugar which is pro-
nonnced by experts to be even supe-
rior to the best Louisiana product
Havana tobecco has also proven 8
success here, Col. j. G. Tucker hav-
ing made some most 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
Grands with its ample flow along
the southern boundary. and rumer-
Gus small streams called "arroyos"
Ind "resscas."
The population of Cameron county.
according to the census of 1890, is
Is, 424. Brownsville, the count,
seat, has population of about 1000.
Point Isabel, the seaport of the
county. has about 400 inhabitants.
md Santa Maria, growing littl.
yer settlement. has about ESQ.
Improved lands sell for from SIS to
$25 per acre, unimproved Tor from 81
to Sc per acre The average taxa.
Die value of land is 81. There are
3, 24O' acres IF school land in th'
cornty. The county has total school
population If 397l. and gives EN-
.,Ioymrnt To- teachers The nver-