The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1896-12-19

SOuOuSlh OOub1J VI 1OAoos ~ IL
f separated from Mexico by the Rio
Grande on the south and has about
100 miles of gulf coast as its east,
ern boundary. It was organized in
1848, 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
Fingly 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, ard stock
G1d pasturae without being fed or
heltered during the winter. But
he soil and climate of the Lower
Rio Grande Valley are by nature
lest 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, serYed
fresh from the gardens in midwln-
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
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 a
large scale, but there is one large
banana plantation on which this
delicious fruit yields most ahund-
antIy 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 lempss also grow in profusion,
aud this section could easily be
made to rival Florida in the pro-
iuction Of oranges Sugar cane is
also one of the most important pro-
puets of this valley. The Rio
frande plantation Of Mr.. Geo. Brit
.av and the rabbi Starc5- plantation
produce great 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
oest Louisiana product Havana
obacco has also proven a success
pre, Col. J G. Tucker having
made some most successful expert
npnts with it; his SAMPLES we've
ilassed by New York buyers as
equal to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Rio
5rande with it, ample flow along
-he southern boundary, and nun
,rous small streams ca led arroyo.
and "resacas.'
The population of Cameron conn
by according 70 the census Of 1890
IS 1924. Brownsville, the county
seat, has 4 population of about
1000 Point Isabel, the seaport of
the county, has about 400 inhabi-
tants and Santa Maria, growing
little river settlement, has ahout250
Improved lands sell for from So
to S25 per acre, unimproved for
from - to SIS per acre The aver
age taxable value Of land is 81.
There are 1920 acres Of school
and in the county. The county
las a total school population Of
400, and gives employment to so
eaehers- The average length of
he school term is i've months. he
otal tuition revenue received from
ne State is Sl3 Geo There are
number Of public schools in the
oHntv, affording ample educational
advantages.
Homeseekers are gradually be-
inning to find their way to this
aud whore farmers can work in the