The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1896-07-02

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 33o9 square
miles. Farming and stock raising
are the principal industries of the
people the location, climate and soil
being admirably adapted Cor both.
The greater portion of the soil is a
rich loan, aud produces an exceed
ingly heavy yield of both cotton
and corn the chief farm products.
Two, and sometimes three crops of
corn, averaging from Ffty to sevens
ty bushels per acre. are raised year
IL, 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 Val ey are by nature
hest adapted for the production of
vegetables and fruits. Vegetables
az 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 IL midwm-
ter. This is undoubtedly tie par
adise of track gardeners, and so
soon as rail transportation Is Oh
tanned Cameron county vegetables
By the car load viii 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 a single frost, and there is
rarely ever any cod 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-
antly and in the greatest perfection
Grapes are also raised extensively
growing in almost every yard. They
ri2en from two to four weeks ear
lier than in any other section
Many planters here make all Of
I their own table wines. Grange:
and lemons also grow in profGsion
and this section could easily b.
mad to rival Florida in the pro
tuction Of oranges Sugar sane j
glso one of the most important pro
pucts Of this valley. The Ri,
Grande plantation Of Mr.. Geo Brn
lay and The Ra5h Starck plantation
produce graat quantities of cane
which is all manufactured on th
Rio Grande plantation This can
makes sugar which is produced b,
experts to he even superior to th
hest Louisiana product. Havan
tobacco has also proven "A sncces
here, Col. j q. Tucker having
made soaie most successful expert
mphis with it; his samples WEI
5classed by New York buyers "a
equal to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Ri
Grande with its ample flow aloni
the southern boundary, and mum
erous small streams Ca led arroyo,
and "resaeas."
The population of Cameron coun
ty according to the census Of 1S9
is 13,424. Brownsville. the count
seat. has a population of abou
! 1000 Point Isabel, the seaport q
the county. has about 400 inhabi
tants and Santa Maria, Il GROWN
little river settlement, has ahout25t
Improved lands sell for from S
I to SO per acre, unimprcved 10
from 81 to So per acre Che aver
age taxable value Of land is 81
There are S2.240 acres Of schoc
land in the county. The count
has "a total school population c
1890, and gives employment to S
teachers HE average length c
the school term is tive nontiis. Iii
total tuition revenue received frol
the State is $l3 600 There are
{ number OF public schools in I'll
county, Attending ample edGcationt
advantages.
Homeseekers are gradually h.
ginning to fnd their way to til
land where farmers can work i'll Il
: open air 36o days in the year. b.
+ it is comparatively undevelopsd
! vet. With the binding Of Il
Iaiiro,,d IN Cnrnvs Christi hpwavp