The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-02-15

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
1848, and contains 3300 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 loamr, 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 truck 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 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 this
delicious fruit yields most ahund-
antly and In the greatest perfection.
Grapes are also raised extensively,
growing in almost every yard. They
riqen 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 is
elso one of the most important pro-
pucts of this valley. The Rio
/ Grande plantation of Mr.. Geo. Bru-
Law and the Rabb Starck plantation
produce graat quantities of cane
which is all manufactured on the
Rio Grande plantation This caue
makes sugar which is produced by
experts to he even superior 20 the
best Louisiana product. Havana
tobacco has also proven success
here, Col. J G. Thicker having
made some most successful expert
mpnfs with it: his samples were
cIassed by New York buyers a.
equal to the best Havana.
The county is waiered by the Rio
Grande with its ample flow along
the southern boundary. and mum
erous small streams ca led arroyo,
and "resacas.
1 The population of Cameron comr.
ty according to the census of 1896
is 1924. Brownsville, the count,
seat, has a population of about
1000 Point isabel, the seaport oil
the county. has about 400 inhabi,
tants and Santa Maria, gSowine
little river settlement, has aioal25A
Improved lands sell for from &;
to $50 per acre, nnimprove,j To-
from 81 to SIS per acre. The aver.
age taxable valne of land is 81
There are S2,24O acres of schoo
land in the county. The connt,
has total sfhool population q
400, AID gives employment to 81
teachers i he average length o
the schonl term is five rnoaths. The
total tuition revenue received from
the State Is Sl3 eco There are ;
number of public schools in til,
county, affording ample educationa
advantages.
Hompseekers are gradually be
ginning to find their way to thu
land where farmers can work in tn,
open air 365 DAYS in the year. hu
5 it Is comparatively undeveIoped a.
yet. " tn the building of tn,
Lailread Ia CorPvs Christi. however
a great influx of settlers may +.
/ l