The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1896-12-11

cameron OOuuGy Is bue eAIIeInt
southern county of Texas. 1t is
Separated from Mexico by the Rio
Grande on the south and has about
100 miles of gulf coast as its east
ern boundary. 1t was organized in
1848, 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 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
corn, averaging from fifty to seyen-
ty bushels per acre. are raised year
lly, 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
nde Valley are by nature
Dted for the production of
IS and fruits. Vegetables
af all kinds grow all the year
Ground, and northern people are as
tonished to find tomatoes, lettuce,
spinach, English peas, etc, served
fresh from the gardens in midwn-
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 be shipped to
northern markets during winter and
early spring, and will obtain the
highest prices. as there will be no
competition. This is due to our
exceedingly mild climate. Free
Bquently the entire winter passes
without a single frost, and there is
rarely ever any cold weather before
kChristmas. Fruit culture has not
een attempted in this county on a
rge scale, but there is one large
Ia plantation on which this
d5l DIS fruit yields most abund-
antIy and in the greatest perfection.
Grapes are also raised extensively,
growing in almost every yard. They
ripeD from two to four weeks ear
ier than in any other section
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 pro-
duction of oranges Sugar cane is
BIso one of the most important pro-
pucts of this valley. The Rio
Grande plantation of-Mr. Geo. Bru-
lay and the Rabb Starck plantation
produce graat quantities Of cane,
which is all manufactured on the
Rio Grande plantation This cane
makes sugar which is produced by
experts to be even superior to the
best Louisiana product. Havana
toblcco has also proven a success
here, Col. J G. Tucker having
male some most successful expert
meLts 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 mum
erous small streams ca led arroyo,
and ''resacas."
The population of Cameron coun.
ty according to the census of 1896
is 1924. Brownsville, the county
seat, has a population of abou
1000 Point Isabel, the seaport o
the county. has about 400 inhabi
tants and Santa Maria, a growing
little river settlement, has about250
Improved lands sell for from s;
to S25 per acre, unimproved 70
from 81 to SIS per acre. The aver
. age taxable value of land is 81
There are 1920 acres of schoo
land in the county. The count
has total school population o
400, and gives employment to 81
teachers. The average length o
the school term is five moaths. Th,
total tuition revenue received from
, the State is Sl3 coo There are
number Of pnbIic schools in tn
county, afording ample educationa
advantages.
Homeseehers are graduallys be
ginning to find their way to thi
land where farmers can work in tn,
open air 800 DAYS in the year. bu