The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-02-24

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 its east
ern boundary. 1t was organized IN
1913, and contains 33O6 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
Iingly 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 productions of
vegetables and fruits. Vegetables
of all kinds grow all the year
around, and northern people are as
tonished to find tomatoes, lettuce,
spinach, English peas. ETC., served
fresh from the gardens in midwn-
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. FIRE.
Iquently the entire winter passes
without 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 abund-
antly and in the greatest perfection
Grapes are also raised extensively
growing in almost every yard. They
ripen 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
made to rival Florida in the pro-
Iduction Of oranges. Sugar cane is
also one of the most important pro-
puets of this valley. The Rio
Grande plantation of Mr.. Geo. Bru-
law 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 pronouncedhy
experts to be even superior to tht
best Louisiana product. Havana
tobacco has also proven a success:
here, Col. J. G. Tucker having
made some most successful expert
ments with it; his samples were
cIassed by New York buyers a.
equal to the best Havana.
The county is watered by the Rio
Grande with its ample flow alone
the southern boundary. and mum
erouS small streams ca led arroyo,
and "resacas."
The population of Cameron coun.
ty according to the census of 1896
| is 1924. Brownsville, the county
seat, has a population of about
| 1000, Point Isabel, the. seaport oil
1.-THE county. has about 400 inhabi,
tants and Santa Maria, growing
little river settlement, has ahont250
| Improved lands sell for from s.
to $50 per acre, unimproved fol
frnm 81 to S6 per acre. The aver
age taxable valne Of land is 81
There are 1920 acres of schoo
land in the county. The count,
has total hool population Of
400, aad gives employment to 81
teachers The average length o.
the school term is five months. Tht
total tuition revenue received from
the State IS Sl3 GOO There are /.
number OF public schools in th'
county. affnrding ample educationa
advantages.
Homeseekers are gradually be
ginning to End their way to thu
land where farmers can work in tn
open air 365 DAYS in the year. hu
it is comparatively nndeveloped a
vet. With the bnilding of tn
railroad to Corpus Christi. however