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

S~As VI 4tAdSs 1t II
separated from Mexico by the Ric
Grande on the south and has about
100 miles of gulf coast as its eastern
boundary. 1t was organized in 1S4S,
and contains S30S 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 t%Ortion of the soil is a rich
Iaom, and produces an exceedingly
heavy yield of both cotton and corn,
the chief farm products. Two, and
sometimes three crops of CORD, aver
aging from fifty to seventy bushels
per eere, are raised yearly. while
cotton will easily yield from one to
two bales per acre: Grasses grow
all the year, and stock fad pasLur-
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 al kinds grow
all 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 ard
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 q
single frost, and there is rsrely ever
any cold weather before Christmas
Fruit culture he's not been attempted
n this county on a large scale, bu'
Ghere 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
tion. Many planters here make
all of their own table wines. Oranges
aud lemons also grow in profusion,
aid this section could easily be mad,
to rival Florida in the production OF
oranges. Sugar cane is also n of
Jhe most Important produc,sn of this
valley. Tue Rio Grande plantation
Of Mr.. Geo. BrQlay and the rabbi
Stark plantation produce great quap
titles of cane, which is ell Danufac-
sured on the Rio Grande plantation
This caue makes sugar which is pro-
aoupced by experts to be even supe-
.ior 80 the best Louisiana product
Havana tobscco has also proven i
success here, Col. j. G Tucker hay
rig made some most successful ex-
perinents with it; his samples were
ciassed by New Yo;k buyers as equal
10 the best Havana.
The couOty is watered by the Rio
Grande with its ample flow along
shs southern boundary, and runner
u small streams called "arroyos'
end "resacas."
The population Of Cameron county
according to the census of 1890, is
1924. Brownsville. the count,
seat, has g population Of ABOUT fO0O
Pciut Isabel, the seaport of the
county. has about 400 inhabitants.
and Santa Maria. a growing little
liver settlement, hes about $50.
Improved lands sell tor from s. to
$50 per acre, uDimproved Tor from 81
10 Sc per acre. The average Taxa
be value of land is 81. There are
81, 240 acres Of school land in the
county. The comfy has a total school
population Of 3271. and gives en-
plovmeut 20 - teachers The aver
aee length of the school term is FIVE
months. The total tuition revenue
received frrm tie State is $4,000.