The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-02-01

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100 miles of gulf coast as its east
ern boundary. 1t 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 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 fiftv to severn
ty bushels per acre, are raised year
ly, 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 Vale 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 midwIn-
ter. This is undoubtedly the par
adise Of truck gardeners, and so
soon as rail transportation is Or
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 he no
competition. This is due to our
exceedingly mild climate. Free
quentIy 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. bnt 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 almos: every yard. They
ri2en from two to ,ur weeks ear
lier than in any other section.
Many planters here make all of
their own table wines. Oranges
and lemons also grow in profnsion,
and this section could easily he
made TO rival Florida in the pro-
duction of oranges Sugar cane is
glsn one of the most important pro-
puts of this valley. The Rio
Grande plantation of Mr.. Geo. Bru-
Law and the Rabh Starck plantation
produce graat quantities of cane,
which Is all manufactured on the
Rio Grande plantation This care
makes sugar which Is produced by
experts TO he even superior TO the
best Louisiana product. Havana
tobacco has also proven a success
here, Col J G. Thicker having
made some most successful expert
merits with it; his SAMPLES were
classed by New York buyers az
equal to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Rio
Grande with It's ample flow along
the southern boundary. and mum
erouS small streams Ca led arroyo, :"
and ''resacas."
The population of Cameron CONN.,
ty according to the cenSns of 1890
is 1924. Brownsville. the county
seat. has a population of about
1000 Point Isabel. the seaport of
the county. has about 400 inhaIi>
tants and Santa Maria, growing
little river settlement, has aboui25n
Improved lands sell for from So
to $50 per acre. unimproved for
from g to Sc per acre. The aver
age taxable value of land is 81
There are 1920 acres of school
land in the county. The county
has a total school population of
400. and gives employment to 80
teachers 1 lie average length of
the school term is five months. ! he
total tuition revenue received from
the State is Sl3 600 There are a
number of pnblic schools III the
county. affording ample educational
advantages.
Homeseekers are gradually be-
ginning to find their way to this
land here farmers can work in the
oren air 800 DAYS in the year. hut
it is comparatively undevelopp.l as
vet. With the hnilding of the
LaiIroad to Corpvs Christi. however.
A great influx OF settlers NAV he
expected and they will he heartily
welcomed. This valley is capable
of supporting millions of people.
The HERALD will he pleased to fnr-