The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1896-09-02

Cameron County is the extreme
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
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 fifty to seven-
ty bushels per acre, are raised year
", 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 Grande Valley 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 in 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 viii be no
competition. This is due to our
exceedin ely mild climate. Free
quently 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, but there is one large
banana plantation on which tins
delicious fruit yields most ahund-
antly and in the greatest perfection.
Grapes are also raised extensively
growing in almost every yard. They
ripen from two to four weeks ear
her 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 Is
gIso one Of the most important pro-
pucts of this valley. The Rio
Grande plantation of Mr.. Geo. BrG-
lay and The rabbi Starck plantation
produce great quantities of cane
which is all manufactured on tn,
Rio Grande plantation This can,
makes sugar which is produced by
experts to be even superior to thu
best Louisiana product. Havana
tobacco has also proven a success
here, Col. J G. Tucker havin.
made some most successful expert
ments with it; his samples wer,
classed by New York buyers a
equal to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Ri
] Grande with its ample flow alon,
the southern boundary, and mum
erous small streams Ca led arroyo,
and 'resaeas."
The population of Cameron coun
ty according to the census of 1888
is 1924 Brownsville. the count
seat, has population Of abou
1000 Point Isabel, the seaport O
the county. has about 400 inhabi
tauts and Santa Maria, "A CROWN
little river settlement, has about25(
Improved lands sell for from s
to $50 per acre, unimpfoved ia
fran 81 to Sc per acre The aver
are taxable value of land is s.
There are 1920 acres of scho'
land in the county. The count
has total school population {
400, and gives employment TO s
teachers The average length {
the school term is tive months. II
total tuition revenue received fro
the State is Sl3 coo. Theirs are
: number Of public schools in Ii
county, affording ample edueatiOn
advantages.
Homeseekers are gradually b
ginning to End their way to til
Hand where farmers can work in t!
open air 3G5 days in the year, b,
it IS comparatively undeVelorcd
vet. W iii tie Lniding Of Il