The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-01-05

cameron county Is tue eAGTeHle
southern county of Texas. 1t is
separated from Mexico by the Rio
Grande on the south and has about
100 niles of gulf coast as its east
ern boundary. It 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 fifty to seven
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 Val ey 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 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
quentlv the entire winter passes
without a single frost, and there is
rarely ever anv cold weather before
Christmas. Fruit culture has not
been attempted in this county on a
large scale, but there Is oae 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
ri2en from tvO to f ,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 profusion,
and this section could easily he
made to rival Florida in the pro-
ductiom Of oranges Sugar cane is
Blsn one of the most important pro-
Ducts of this valley. The Rio
Grandp plantation Of Mr. Geo. Bru-
Law and The rabbi Starck plantation
produce graat quantities OF cane
which is all manufactured on the
Rio Granae plantation This cane
makes sugar which IS produced by
experts to ne even superior to the
hest Louisiana product. Havana
tobacco has also proven success
here, Col. J G. Thicker haTinq
made some most successful expert
mei.is with It; his SAMPLES wee
elassed by New York buyers as
equal TO the best Havana.
'Fhe county is watered by the Rio
| Grande with Is ample flow along
the southern boundary. and mum
prnns small streams ca led arroyo,
and 'resacas.
The population of Cameron conn
ty according to the census OF 1891
lis 13.424. Brownsville. the comfy
seat. has population Of abou
1000 Point Isabel, the seaport O
the county. has about 400 inhati
tants AMI Santa Maria. growing
little river settlement, has ahoni250
Improved lands sell fer from s;
tn S25 per acre, uHimproTed 10
from 50 to SIS per acre The aver
age taxable value of land is 81
There are 1920 acres Of schoo
land in the county. The counts
has a fetal hool population q
! 400, aid gives employment to 81
teachers The average length o
the school term is five months. ! Il,
total tnition revenue received from
the State Is S13 eco There are
number of public schools in tn
caInty, aifording ample educationa
advantages.
Hompseekers are gradually be
ginning to find their way to thi
/ land here farmers. can work in th.
open air 365 days in the year. baI
it IS comparatively undegeiopei as
Yet. WITH the hpiiding OF the