The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-05-24
Valuable Information.
CAMERON COUNTY:

Cameron County is the extreme
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 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, 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, 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 natare best adapted
for the production of vegetables and
fruits. Vegetables of all kinds grow
all the year around, and northern
people are astonished to ind toma-
toes, lettuce. spinach, English peasc,
etc., served fresh from the gardens
in midwiDter. This is undoubtedly
the paradise of truck gardeners. aud
so soon as rail transportation is OBJ
tanned Cameron county vegetables
by the car load will be shipped tc
northern markets during winter aad
early spring, and will obtain the
highest prices, as there will lie no
competition. This is due to cur ex
ceedingly mild climate. Frequently
the entire winter passes without
single frost, and there is rsrely 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 delicious fruit yields
most abundantly and in the greatest
perfection. Grapes 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 profnsi0n.
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. Tue Ria Grande plantation
of Mr.. Geo. Br2lay and the Rabbi
Stark plant alton produce great guam
titles of caue, which is all manufac-
t1red on the Rio Grande plantation.
Ibis cane makes sugar which is pro-
nouDced by experts to be even supe-
rior to the best Louisiana product
Havana tobacco has also proven 8
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 equal
to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Rio
Grande with its ample flow along
the southern boundary. and runner
GUS 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.
PCiut Isabel, the seaport of the
county. has about 400 inhabitants.
and Santa Maria, a growing little
yer settlement. has about $50.
Improved lands sell tor from S. to
$25 per acre, unimproved FOR from 81
to Sc per acre The average taxa
BILE value of land is 81. There are
81, 240 acres of school land in tn
county. The county has total school
population of 327I. and gives EN-
ployment to - teachers The aver
age length of the school term is FIVE
months. The total tuition revenue
?