The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-05-02
Valuable Inflammation.
CAMERON COUNTY:

separated fscu Mexico by The Rio
Grende on the south ard has aboat
| loo miles OF CALF coast as IFS eastern
boundary. 1t was organized in 1913,
and contains s30S square miles.
Farming and etock raising are the
principal industries OF the people.
the location. climate and soil being
admirably adapted for both. The
greater ,ortion 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 ffiy to seventy bushels
per ssre, are raised yearly, while
cotton will easily yield from one to
two bales per acre, Grasses grow
all the year, aud stock find pestur-
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, aud northern
people are astonished to End 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 lie no
competition. This is due to our ex
ceelingly mild climate. Frequently
the entire winter passes without
single frost, and there is rsrely ever
any cold weather before Christmas
Fruit en- ture has not been attempted
in this county oa large scals, but
there is ono large blnana plantation
on which this delicious fruit yields
most sbnn laniiy and in the erea!es,
perfection G ares are also raised
extensively, growing in almost every
yard They ripen from two TO four
weeks earlier than in any other sec
ton, Many planters here make
all of their o@n table wines. Oranges
and lemons also grow in profnsion.
and this section could easily be made
to rival FIori la in the production Of
oranges. Sugar cane is also one of
the most important products Of this
valley. Tue Rio Grande planta ton
of Mr.. Geo. Br2ley and the Rabh-
Stark plantation produce great guam
titles of csue, which. is all manufac-
'ured on the Rio Grande plantation
Ibis cane makes sugar which is pro-
nonnced by experts to be even snpe-
rior to the best Louisiana product
Havana tobacco has also proven a
success here, Col. J. G Tucker hav-
ing made some most successful ex-
periments with it; his samples were
classed by New Yo'k buyers as eqnai
to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Rio
Grande with its ample flow along
the southern boundary, end runner
Gus small streams called "arroyos"
md "resacas.'
The population Of Cameron county.
according to the census of 1890. is
1924. Brownsville. the CONT,
seat, has population Of sbout 1000. |
Point Isabel, The seaport of the
county. has about 400 inhabitants.
and Santa Maria, growing little
iver settlement. has about $50.
Improved lands sell Tor from s. t.
SIS per acre, uuimproyed Tor from 81
to Sc per acre The average taxa,
bic value Of lan.l is 81. There a.,
3, 80 acres Of school land in tb,
county The comfy has total school
population Of 1911. ard gives EN-
ploYpent to =. teachers The aver
age length of The school term is fivs
mouths. The total tuition revenue
received frrm the State is Sl3 coo.
There are a number of pHblic schools