The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-04-10

Cameron County Is the extreme
southern county of Texas. 1t is
separated from Mexico by the Rio
EGrande on the south and has about
100 miles Of gulf coast as its esst-
ern boundary. It was organized in
1848, and contains 1903 square
miles. Farming and stock raising
are the principal industries of the
people the location, climate and soil
being admiralty adapted for both.
The greater portion of the soil is q
/ rich loan, and produces an exceed
lingly heavy yield Of both cotton
and corn the chief farm products.
Two. and somstimes three crops of
corn, averaging from .fiftv to severn
lty bushels per acre, are raised year.
lly, 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 Val ey are by nature
hest adapted for the production of
vegetables and fruits. Vegetables
Eof all kinds grow all the year
Iaround, and northern people are as
Etonished to ind 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
tained Cameron county vegetables
| by the car load viii be shipped to
Enorthern markets during winter and
earIy spring, and will obtain the
highest prices. as there will be no
EcorFretition. This is due to our
Exceedingly mild climate. Free
Iquently the entire winter passes
without single frost, and there is
rarely ever any cold weather before
| Christmas. Fruit cuItuFe has not
been attempted IN This county on a
large scale, hHrt there Is one large
banana plantation on which this
delicious fruit yields most abund-
antly 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 here make all Of
their own table wines. Oranges
and lemons also grow in profusion,
and this section could easily be
mad to rival Florida in the pro-
Eduction of oranges Sugar cane is
Ealso one of the most important pro-
pucts of this valley. The Rio
fGrande plantation of Mr.. Gen. Bra
lay and che Rabh Starek plantation
produce great quantities OF cane,
which is all manufactured on the
Rio GFsHae plantation This cane
makes sugar which is prononneedby
experts 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
menss with it; his samples were
cFassed 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
erous small streams ca led '-arroya,"
and "resacas."
The population Of Cameron couH-
ty according to the census of 1890
is ID, 424. Brownsville, the county
seat, has a population of about
1000, Point Isabel, the seaport of
the county. has about 400 inhabi-
tants and Santa Maria. q growing
little river settlement, has ahuuf250.
Improved lands sell for from So
to $25 ger acre, unitnproved for
from 50 to Sc per acre The aver
age taxable vHlue of land is 81.
There are 1920 acres Of school
land in the eOnntS. The county
has total school population of
400, and gives employment to 80
teachers The average length of
The school term is live months. The
total tuiti0n revenue received from
the State IS $l3 600 There are a
number OF public schools in the
county, affording ample educational
advantages.
Horneseekers are gradually be-
ginning to find their way tn this
land where farmers can work in the