The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-01-25

Grande on the south and has about
100 miles of gulf coast as its east
ern boundary. 1t was organized in
1913, and contains 3308 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.
iy, 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 he 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 abund-
antiy 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 mere 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
elso one of the most important pro-
pncts of this valley. The Rio
Grande plantation of Mr.. Geo. Bru-
Law and the Rabb Starck plantation
produce grsat 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
tobacco has also proven success
here, Col. J G. Tucker having
made some most successful expert
meats with it; his samples were
classed by New York buyers as
equal to the hest Havana.
The county is watered by the Ric
Grande with its ample flow along
the southern boundary, and NUN
Ierous 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 about
1000 Point Isabel, the seaport oil
the county. has about 400 inhabi-
tants and Santa Maria, growing
little river settlement, has about250
Improved lands sell for from s.
to S25 per acre. unimprovea fol
from 50 to Sc per acre The aver
age taxable value of land is 81
There are 1920 acres of schoo
land in the comfy. The county
has a total 5 hool population Of
400. ard gives employment to sc
teachers The average length oi
the Scho.l term is five mouths. ! he
total tuition revenue received from
the State is S13 600 There are :
number Of pnblic schools III the
county, Attending ample edueationa
advantages.
Homeseekers are gradually be-
ginning to fud their way to thi.
land here farmers can work in the
open air 365 days in the year. buI
lit is comparatively undeveloped as
vet. With the building of the
Iailroad tn Corpvs Christi. however
q c,rast inAux of settlers may ht