The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-02-12

OdHeEOu OOuutN Is tile eAbfFule
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 It's 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 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 fftv to seVen-
ty bushels per acre, are raised year.
lily, 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 OBJ
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, bnt there is one large
banana plantation on which this
delicious frnit yields most abund-
antIy and in the greatest perfection.
Grapes are also raised extensively.
growing in almost every yard. They
ripen from two to four weeks ear
Iier 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-
Ipucts of this valley. The Rir
Grande plantation of Mr.. Geo. Brn-
lay and the Rabb Starck plantation
produce great quantities of cane
which is all manufactured on the
Rio Grande plantation This cane
makes sugar which is produced by
experts to be even superior to the
best Louisiana product. Havamf
, tobacco has also proven a success:
here, Col. J G. Tucker having
made some most successful expert
ments with ii; his samples weit
: cIassed by New York buyers a.
Eequal to the best Havana.
The comfy is watered by the Rio
Grande with its ample flow along
: the southern boundary. and mum
erous small streams called arroyo,
and "resacas."
The population of Cameron coun.
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, growing
little river settlement, has about250
Improved lands sell for from s.
60 $50 per acre, unimproved 70,
from u to so per acre. The aver
age taxable value of land is 81
There are 82.240 acres of sehoo
iamd in the county. The count,
has a total school population Of
400, aad gives employment to Sc
teachers The average length OF
the school term is i've mouths. The
total tnition revenue received from
the State is Sl3 600 There are .
number Of pnhlic schools in the
county, affording ample educationa
advantages.
Homeseekers are gradually he
ginning Is ind their way to TIN;
lard where farmers can work in the
open air $50 DAYS in the year. but
| it Il comparatively unaeveloped as
| vet. With the building of The
daiii-oad to Corpys Christi. however
great influx of settlers NAV b.