The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1896-07-06

separated 1TOu m6AlCO ny tHo LUZ
Grande on the south and has about
100 miles of gulf coast as its east
ern boundary. 1t was organized in
1913, 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 fiftv 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
End pasturae without being fed or
sheltered during the winter. But
the soil and climate of the Lower
Rio Grande Val ey are by nature
best adapted for the production of
vegetables 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 i'll midwln-
ter. This is undoubtedly the par
adise Of track 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 and
early spring, and will obtain the
highest prices, as there will be no
competition. This is due to our
exceedingly mild climate. Free
quently the entire winter passes
without single frost, and there is
rarely ever any cold weather before
Christmas. Fruit culture has not
been attempted in this county on q
large scale, but there IS one large
banana plantation on which this
delicious fruit yields most abund-
antly and in the greatest perfection.
Grapes are also raised extensively
growing in almost every yard. They
rioen 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 profusion
and this section could easily be
made to rival Florida in the pro-
duction Of oranges. Sugar cane i:
glso one of the most important pro-
pucts of this valley. The RiC
Grande plantation of Mr.. Geo. Bru'
lay and The Rabb Starck plantation
produce great quantities of cane
| which is all manufactured on tn,
Rio Grande plantation. This cant
makes sugar which is produced by
experts to be even superior to th,
best Louisiana product. Havana
tobacco has also proven success
here, Col. j. G. Tucker havins
made some most successful expert
ments with It; his samples WEI,
classed by New York buyers a
equal to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Ri
Grande with its ample flow alons
the southern boundary, and mum
erous small streams called arroyo,
and ''resacas."
The population of Cameron coun
ty according to the census of 1885,
lis 13,424. Brownsville, the count,
seat, has a population of abou
! 1000 Point Isabel, the seaport o
the county, has about 400 inhabi
tants and Santa Maria, a GROWN.
little river settlement, has about25O
Improved lands sell for from S;
to $50 per acre, unimproved TO
from 81 to So per acre. The aver
age taxable value of land is 81
! There are S2,240 acres of schoo
land in the county. The count,
has a total school population O
400, and gives employment to s.
teachers The average length 0
the school term is five moaths. Tn
total tuition revenue received from
the State is $4,000. There are
number of public schools in tn
county, affording ample educationa
advantages.
Homeseekers are gradually be
ginning TO fnd their way to thi
land where farmers can work in tn
open air 800 days in the year. bu
it is comparatively undeveloped a
yet. With the bnilding Of tn
Iailroad to Corpvs Christi. however