The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-01-04

| separated from Mexico Oy Iue Aeio
Grande on the south and has about
100 miles of gulf coast as its east
ern boundary. 1t was organized IN
1913, 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
rich loan, and produces an exceed
Iingly heavy yield of both cotton
and corn the chief farm products.
Two. and sometimes three crops of
corn, averaging from -iftv to severn
ty bushels per acre, are raised year
ily, 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 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 be no
competition. This is due to our
exceedingly mild climate. FIRE.
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-
lantly and in the greatest perfection.
Grapes are also raised extensively.
growing in almost every yard. They
ripen from two to fnlr weeks ear
her than In any other section.
ManT 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-
tiuctiOn 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 cane
makes sugar which Is produced by
EXPERTS to he even superior to the
: hest Louisiana product. Havana
tobacco has also proven success
here, Col. J G. Thicker having
made some most successful expert
lments with it; his samples were
cIassed by New York buyers as
equal to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Rio
Grande with It's ample flow along
the southern boundary. and mum
Earous small streams Ca led arroyo,
and "resacas."
The population of Cameron conn
ty according to the census of 1896
is 1924. Brownsville, the county
seat, has a population os about
1000 Point Isabel, the seaport OF
the county. has about 400 inhabi-
tants and Santa Maria. a growing
little river settlement, has about250
Improved lands sell for from s.
to $50 per acre, unimproved fol
from % to SIS per acre The aver
age taxable vaIue of land Is 81
There are 1920 acres of schoo
land in the county. The county
has a total school population OF
400, and gives employment to sc
teachers The average length oil
the school term is five months. The
total tuition revenue received from
tine State is S13 900 There are :
number of public schools in the
county, affording ample educational
advantages.
Homeseekers are gradually be-
ginning tn find their way to this
land where farmers can work in the
open air 365 DAYS in the year. but
it is comparatively unaeveloPed as
yet. With the binding of the
Iailroad TO Corpvs Christi. however,
a great influx of settlers NAV be
expected and they will he heartily