The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-06-13
Valuable Information.
CAMERON COUNTY:

southern county OF Texas. 1t il
separated from Mexico by the Rio
Grande on the south and has about
200 miles of gulf coast as its eastern
boundary. Il WAS organized in 1913,
and contains 3308 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
laom, and produces an exceedingly
heavy yield of both cotton and corn,
the chief farm products. Two, and
sometimes three crops of COIN, 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 vegetsbles 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
ths paradise of truck gardeners, aud
SO soou 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 sswiil lie no
competition. This is due to our ex
eeediugly mild climate. Frequently
the entire winter passes without, q
Single frost, and there is rsrely ever
any cold weather before Christmas.
Fruit culture has not been attempted
II this county on a large scale, but
there is one large banana plantation
on which this delicious fruit yields
most abundautly and in the greatest
perfection. Grapes are also raised
extensively. growing in almost every
TeId. They ripen from two to four
Weeks earlier than in any other sec
ton. Many planters here make
ali of their own table wines. Oranges
ard lemons also grow in profusion.
and this section could easily be made
90 rival Florida in the production of
ofangeg. Sugar cane is also one of
She most important products of this
valley. Tue Rio Grande plantation
Of Mr.. Geo. Br0lay and the Rabb
Stark plantation produce great guam
Sites Of cane, which is all mannfac-
f1Ted on the Rio Grande plantation.
Hhis cane makes sugar which is pro-
nOupced by experts to be even supe-
-for &c the best Louisiana product
Havana tobecco has also proven a
SUCCESS here, Col. J. G Tucker hay
3bg made some most successful ex-
perinents with it; his samples were
classed by New York buyers as equal
20 the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Rio
Grande with its ample flow along
the southern boundary. end rumer-
GUS small streams called "arroycs"
snd ''resaeas
The population of Cameron county.
according to the ceusus Of 1890, is
g. 424. Brownsville, the county
seat, has population Of about 1000.
Poiut Isabel. the seaport of the
county. has abont 400 iDhabitants.
and Santa Maria, a growing little
jyer settlement. has about $50.
Improved lands sell tor from SIS to
$25 per acre, unimproved Tor from 81
to SIS per acre The average taxa
bic value of land is 81. There are
2,240 acres Of school land in lh-
county. The county has total school
population Of 1911. and gives en-
ploYment to - teachers The aver
age length of the school t+fm is five