The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-05-01
Valuable information.
CAMERON COUNTY:

1
separated from Mexico by the Rio
Grande on the south snd has about
100 miles of gulf coast as IFS eastern
boundary. 1t was organized in 1S4S,
and contains S3OS 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 ortion of the soil is rich
laom, and produces an exceedingly
heavy yield of both cotton and coin.
the chief farm products. Two, and
sometimes three crops of corn, aver.
aging from 6fty 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 vegetables and
fruits. Vegetables of all kinds grow
all the year around, aud northern
people are astonished to find toma-
toes, lettuce. spinach, English pesse,
ETC., served fresh from the gardens
in midwinter. This is undoubtedly
the paradise of truck gardeners, and
SO soon as rail transportation is ob-
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
ceedingly mild climate. Frequently
the entire winter passes without
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 plsnts.ion
on which this delicious fruit yields
most buniantly and i'll the creates,
perfection @ a. es 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 own table wines. Oranges
and lemons also grow in profusion.
and this section could easily be made
to rival Flori la in the production of
Sugar cane is also one of
the most important products of this
valley. Tue Rio Grande plantation
of Mr. Geo Bralsy and the Rabb-
S'ar"k plan alton produce great guam
titles of cane, which is all manufac-
'nred on the Rio Grande plantation.
Ibis cane makea sugar whi:h is pro-
nounced by experts to be even supe-
rior to the best Louisiana product
Havana tobs eco has also proven a
success btre, Col. j. G Tucker hav-
ing made some most successful ex-
perinents with it; his samples were
classed by New Yoa k buJe as eqnsl
to tue best Havana.
The county is watere1 by the Rio
Grande with its ample flow along
the soathern boundary. and rumer-
ous small streams called "arroyos"
md "resacas.
The population of Cameron county.
according to the census of 1890, is
1924. Brownsville. the count,
seat, has population of about 1000.
PGiut Isabel. the seaport of the
county. has about 400 inhabitants.
md Santa Maria, a growing little
yer settlement. has about $50.
Improved lands sell for from S. to
s25 per acre, uuimproved Tor from 50
10 Sc per acre The average taxi.
Die value of land is 81. There are
s2,2l0 acres Cf school land in th-
county. The comfy has a total school
population of 397l. and gives EN-
oloYmPnt TO - teschers The aver
Ige length of the school term is five
The total tuition revt nue.
'eceived fir, m the Stale is Sl3 600.