The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-01-08

OdtueIOu OOuutJ ID Tie cAticnc
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. It was organized in
1848, 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 Ioam, 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 fiftv to seven-
ty bushels per acre, are raised year
ly, while cotton will easily yield
frem 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 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
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
ripen 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
vlso one of the most important pro-
pucts Of this valley. The Rio
Grande plantation of Mr.. Geo. Bru-
lay 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
to be even superior to the
best Louisiana product. Havana
tobacco has also proven a success
here, Col. J G. Tucker having
made some most successful expert
ments with it; his samples were
classed by New York BUYERS as
equal to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Rio
Grande with its ample flow along
the southern boundary, and mum
srous small streams ca led ''arroya,
and ''resacas."
The population of Cameron conn
" according to the census of 1890 |
IS 1924. Brownsville, the county |
,eat, has a population of about
1000 Point Isabel, the seaport of |
he county. has about 400 inhabi- |
ANTS and Santa Maria, a growing |
title river settlement, has about250 |
Improved lands sell for from So |
% S25 per acre. nnimproved for
rom 81 to SIS per acre. The aver
lge taxable vaIne of land is 81. |
There are 1920 acres of school
and in the county. The county
las total school population of |
400, aad gives employment to 80
eachers- The average length of
he school term is five nloaths. The
otal tuition revenue received from
he State is Sf3 600 There are
lumber of public schools in the
ounty, afording ample educational
dVautages.
Homeseehers are gradually be-
inning to find their way to this
md where farmers can work in the
pen air 365 days IN the year. but
is comparatively undeveloppd as
1T. With the building of the