The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-04-11
Valuable Information.
CAMERON COUNTY:

separated from Mexico by the Rio
Grande on. the south and has about
100 miles of gulf coast as IFS 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 eeventy 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 al kind5 grow
all the year around, and northern
people are asionished to find toma-
toes. lettuce. spinach, English peaFe,
ETC., served fresh from the gardens
in midwinter This is undoubtedly
the paradise of truck gardeners, and
SO soon as rail transportation is oh.
tanned Cameron county vegetables
by the car load will be shipped to
northern markets during winter and
early spring, ana will obtain the
highest prices. as there will lie no
competition. This is due to cur ex
cee1ingly mild climate. Frequently
the entire winter passes without
single frost, and there is rarely 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 delirious fruit yields
most abundantly And in the greatest
perfection. G apes are also raised
extensively, growing il almost every
yard. They ripen from two 70 four
weeks earlier than in any other ser.
tioo. Many planters here make
al of their OVID table wines. Oranges
and lemons also grow in profusi0n,
and this section could easily be made
20 rival Florila in The production OF
oranges. Sugar cane is also one Of
the most important products of this
valley. Tee Rio Grande plantation
of Mr.. Geo Bralay and the Rabb
S,ar"k 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 tobt eco has also proven a
success here, Col. J. G Tucker hav-
ing made some most successful ex.
perinents with it; his samples were
classed by New Yo'k buyers as eqaai
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 ''arroyos"
and "resacas."
The population of Cameron county.
according to the census of 1890. Is
1924. Brownsville. the count,
seat, has population Of about 1000
Pciut Isabel. the seaport of the
county, has abont 400 inhabitants.
nd Santa Maria, a growing little
yer settlement, has about $50.
Improved lands sell Tor from SIS to
$25 per acre, uaimproved for from 81
20 S. per acre. The average taxa
Die vJue of land is 81. There are
22,2l0 acres If school land in the
colnty. The county has total school
population Of 327l. ard gives EN-
ployment to - teachers The aver
age length of the school term is FIVE
months. The total tuition revenue