The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1896-09-24

southern county of Texas. 1t is
separated from Mexico by the Rio
Grande on the south and has about
100 miles of gulf,eoast as its east
ern boundary. 1t was organized in
1913, and contains 330S 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 a
rich loan, and produces an exceed
ingly heavy yield of both cotton
and corn the chief farm products.
Two. and sometimes three crops of
fcorn, averaging from fifty to seven-
ty bushels per acre, are raised year
ly, while cotton will easily yield
from one to two bales per acres.
Grasses grow all the year, and stock
find pasturae without being fed or
sheltered during the winter. But
the soil and climate Of the lower
Rio Gfande Val ey are by nature
best adapted for the production Of
vegetables and fruits. Vegetables
af all kinds grow all the year
Ground, aud northern people are as
tonished TO lind tomatoes, lettuce,
spinach, English peas, etc, served
fresh from the gardens in midwm-
ter. This is undoubtedly the par
adise of track gardeners, and so
soon as rail transportation is oh
tanned Cameron county vegetables
by the car load will he shipped to
northern markets during winter and
early spring, aud will obtain the
highest prices, as there will be no
competition. This is due to our
Exceedingly mild climate. Fre-
iquentIy the entire winter passes
without a single frost, and there is
rarely ever any cold weather before
| Christmas. Fruit culture has not
been attempted in this county on a
large scale, bnt there is one large
banana plantation on which this
delcions fruit yields most ahund-
antly and in the greatest perfection.
Grapes are also raised extensively,
growing in almost every yard. They
ri7en from two to four weeks ear
lier than in any other section.
Many planters here make all of
their own table wines. Oranges
and lemons also grow in profnsion,
and this section could easily be
made to rival Florida in the pro-
duction OF oranges Sugar cane is
Glso enc of the most important pro-
pucts of this valley. The Rio
Grande plantation Of Mr.. Geo, Bru-
Law and The rabbi StarclI plantation
produce great quantities of cane,
which is all manufactured on the
Rio Grande plantation This care
makes sugar which is produced by
experts to he even superior to the
best Louisiana product. Havana
tobacco has also proven a success
here, Col. J G.. Tucker having
made some most successful expert
nenfs with it; his samples were
classed by New York buyers a.
equal to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Ric
Graude with its ample flow along
the southern boundary, and mum
erous small streams ca led arroyo,
and "resacas."
The population Of Cnmeron conn.
ty according to the census of 1885,
is 1924 Brownsville. the comfy
seat, has a population of about
1000 Point Isabel, the seaport Of
the county, has about 400 inhabi,
tants aud Santa Maria, growing
little river settlement, has ahout25O
Improved lands sell for from s.
to $50 per acre, unimproved foi
from g to IS per acre The aver.
age taxable valne of land is 81
There are 1920 acres Of sohoo
land in the county. The Court
has a total school population o
400. and gives employment 70 81
teachers The average length o
the school term is five moths. Tn,
total tniifnn revenue received from
tine State is $l3 600 There are
number OF pnblic schools in th,
county, aifording ample educationa
advantages.
Homeseekers are gradually be
ginning to ind their way to thi
land where farmers can work in thu
open air 500 days in the year, bu
it is comparatively undevploped a