The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-04-25
Valuable information
CAMERON COUNTY:

! southern county OF Texas. le ie
separated from Mexico by the Rio
Grsnde on the south aud has about
100 miles of gulf coast as its eastern
boundary. 1t was organized in 1S4S,
and 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
laom, 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, aud 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 astnnished to find toma-
toes, lettuce. spinach, English pease,
ETC., served fresh from the gardens
in midwinter. This il 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 mqrkets during winter and
early spring, and will obtain the
highest prices. as there will lie no
competition. This is due to our ex
ceedingly mild climate. Frequently
the entire winter passes without a
single frost, and there is rsrely ever
any cold weather before Christmas.
Fruit Gu ture has not been attempted
in this county on large scale, but
there is one large banana plantation
on which this delicious fruit yields
most sbundanily aad in the greatest
perfection Grapes are also raised
extensively, growing in almost every
yard. They ripen from two 70 four
weeks earlier than in any other sec
ton, Many planters here make
all of their own fable wines. Oranges
aud 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 Graude 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-
nounced by experts to be even supe-
rior to the best Louisiana product
Havana tobacco has also proven
success here, Col. J. G. Tucker bav-
ing made some most successful ex-
perinents with It; his samples were
classed by New York buyers as eqnal
to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Rio
Grande with its ample flow along
the southern boundary. and uumer-
Gus small streams called "atroyos"
and "resacas."
The population OF Cameron county,
according to the census Of 1890. is
Is. 424. Brownsville. the county
seat, has population Of about 1000.
Point Isatel. the seaport of the
county, has about 400 inhabitants.
md Santa Maria, growing little
yer settlement. has about $50.
Improved lands sell Tor from SIS to
s25 per acre, unimproved Tor from 81
to Sc per acre The average taxi
bic value of land is 81. There are
32,24O acres of school land in the
county. The county has total school
population Of 327l, and gives EN-
ployment to - teachers The aver
/ IL Il l.. e