The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-04-24
Valuable information.
CAMERON COUNTY:

southern county of Texas. 1t is
separated from Mexico by the Rio
Grande on The south aud has about
100 miles of gulf coast as its eastern
boundary. 1t was organized in lS40,
and contains 33oS 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 corp,
the chief farm products. Two, aud
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, 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 all kinds grow
all the year around, aud northern
people are asionished to find toma.
toes. lettuce. spinach, English pease,
etc., served fresh from ne gardens
in midwiuter. 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 m rkets during winter and
early spring, ana will obtain the
highest prices, as there will he no
competition. This is due to cur ex
ceeiiugly mild climate. Frequently
the entire winter passes without a
single frost, snd there is rsrely ever
any cold weather before Christmas
Fruit Gu ture has not been attempted
in this county on large scale, bu'
there is one large banana plantation
on which this delicious fruit yields
most sbundantly and in The greatest
perfection G ayes are also raised
extensively, growing in almost every
gard They ri!en from two 70 four
weeks earlier than in any other sec
tion, Many planters here make
all of their own table wines. Oranges
and lemons also grow in profusiou,
and this section could easily be made
to rival Florida in the production of
oranges. Sugar cane is also one of
the most important products of this
valley. Tee Rit, Grande plantstion
of Mr. Geo. Br3lay aud the Rabh
S.ar~k plantation produce great guam
titles of cane, which is oil manufac-
'ured on the Rio Grande plantation.
his caue makes sugar which is pro-
nouuced by experts to be even supe-
rior to the best Louisiana product
Havana tobe eco has also proven
success here, Col. j. G Tucker hav-
ing made some most successful ex-
perinents with it; his samples were
classed hy New Yo,k buJeisas eqnai
TO the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Rio
Grands with its ample flow along
the southern boundary. and rumer-
Gus small streams called "srroyos"
md "resacas."
The population of Cameron county,
according to the census of 1890. is
Is. 424. Brownsville. the count.
seat, has population of about 1000.
Poiut IsaLel, the seaport of the
county. has aboat 400 Inhabitants
nd Santa Maria. a growing little
yer settlement. he's about $50.
Improved lands sell tor from s. to
s25 per acre, uuimproved Tor from 81
to Sc per acre The average taxa
DIe value cf lnni is 81. There are
.2,24O acres If school laud in :h'
o1ntv. The county has total schoo
population of 327l. and gives EN-
ployuent to - teachers The aver