The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-04-14
Valuable information,
CAMERON COUNTY:

sepetheSO ttOm Me2lcO py TUG HiO
Grande or. the south and hes about
100 miles of gulf coast as its eastern
boundary. 1t was organized in lSaS,
and contains S308 square miles.
Farming and etock raising are the
principal industries of the people.
the location. climate and soil being
admirably adapted for both. The
grester portion of the soil is rich
laono, and produces an exceedingly
heavy yield of both cotton and com,
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, and stock find pastur-
age without being fed or sheltered
during the winter. Bot 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 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 AID
early spring, and will obtain the
highest prices, as there will he no
competition. This is dae to cur ex
eeedingly mild climate. Frequently
the entire winter passes without 3
single frost. and there is rsrely ever
any cold weather before Christmas
Fruit culture has not been attempted
in this county on large scale. bat
there is one large banana plsutatiOn
on which this delicious fruit yields
most abuudaotIy and il the greatest
perfection, Grapes are also raised
extensively, growing IN almost every
yard. They Ti9eu from two 20 fonr
weeks carrier than in any other sec
ton, Many planters here make
all Of their own table wines. Oranges
and lemons also grow in profnsi0n,
and this section could easily be made
20 rival Florida il the production Of
oranges. Sugar cane is also one Of
the most important products of tbs
valley. Tue Rio Grande plantation
Of Mr. Geo. Bc2lsy and the Rabb-
Slar~k plantation produce great guam
titles Of cane. which is all manufsc-
.qred on the Rio Graude plantation.
his cane makes sugar which is pro-
noauced By experts to be even supe-
rior to the best Louisiana product
Havana tobacco has also proven
success bere, Col. J. G. Tucker hav-
ing made some most successful ex-
refiments with it; his samples were
classed by New York buyers as equal
to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Rio
Grande with its ample flow along
the southern boundary. and Eumer-
GUS small streams called 'arroyos
aud "rssacas."
The population of Cameron county,
hccorGih5 W lbo Cououo VI ' "
IS, 424. Brownsville. the county
seat, has population Of about 1000.
Poiut Isabel, the seaport Of the
county. has aboat 400 inhabitants.
and Santa Maria, growing little
yer settlement. has about $50.
Improved lands sell Tor from SIS to
SIS per acre, unimproved ior from 81
70 SIS per acre The average iaxi-
BILE value of land is 81. There are
| 82,24O acres Of school land in the
comfy. The comfy has total school
population Of 3271, and gives EN-
ployment to - teachers The aver
age length of the school term is five