Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-04-02

49, t'Nf - 1880
which there II no more refreshing looking
tree, mesquite, which here attains a dignity
Of which this sometimes despised tree j. en-
~roneously often thought incapable, and
many other trees and Towering shrubs
of different species. Adjoining the park
are the grounds Of the Mercedes hotel, q
comfortable and home-like hostelry. seated
back in the trees away from the dirt and
dust.
The park and hotel grounds together
make an inviting spot on a hot dusty day
in fact one magnificent palm and "A COM
Portable chair are 10 blame for this ar
ticle not having more about "~Cabbage~
and Kings
Wasn't il Wadsworth, and wasn't he
talking about MelroSe Abbey, when he
said:
IF you would view fair Melrose Alright,
Go visit it by the pale moonlight
haven't my Bartlett with me. but the
same might be said of this palm paradise
l was there and saw il, 80 | know | should
not wonder ii the SWANS here ''Sigh like
furnace and make "woeful ballads" to
their '.mistress's eyebrows
HOMES CATCH INSPIRATION.
The homes in the own seem to have
caught the inspiration from those far-see-
ing gentlemen who laid out the park and
hotel grounds: the lawns are well kept.
there are an abundance of palms and
trees in the yards and along the streets.
and there are homes in the vicinity which
carry ont that same idea. The result
achieved j. very effective-the whole town
has an air of being cool and refreshing,
there il little dust, and one can but mag
inc that these homes must belong to peo-
pie who love beautiful surroundings.
BEAUTIFUL HOMES IN MERCEDES.
II il d hard matter TO visit Mercedes and
keep the tenth commandment; one invaria-
bly, finds himself c~oveting his neighbor'~
house. Take for instance the beautiful
brick and stucco home of Judge :. p. Sill
yer, n building only a few years old and
vet nearly covered with what the botan-
lists call ficus repan~, commonly known
"a California fig vine, "A creeper which
grows very rapidly in this climate. The
yard il carpeted with velvety grass, and
citrus and acacia trees furnish shade. Or
take the home Of Mr.. T.. II. Evans, 4 short
distance out of town. comfortable, one
story building Of stucco, built around a
patio in which grow American beauty roses,
poinsetta. and bouganyila. In the yard
are 10 be found q great variety of trees
citrus, pomegranaie, acacia, prInet and
japanese silk oak, among Others. Mes
quite was cleared from this place only in
1911.
These fact are given not 20 much for
themselves a. 10 show just what are the
possibilities Of the Valley in the domain
Of the city beautiful and the home beau
tifal. They are demonstrated everywhere
and many a time the remarkable adapta-
bility Of the soil for the growing Of var
Mercedes has done and j. doing her part
but il has been the peculiar task Of Mer-
cedes to show also the remarkable adapt
ability of the soil and climate for the
growing of a great variety Of palms. Of
trees, of Towering shrubs and of flowers,
uHu OI Just now DthiAliui ~ tUNH ~ w
made by paying attention to these things.
Nor am | aware that by taking heed for
the large side Of life. have they neglected
the material things: | I'm not aware that
the town has ever been bankrupted by hav-
ing a pretty park, or that the farms are
any less productive or less carefully titled
simply because their owners likewise care
fer vine clad houses and green grass and
beautiful trees. In fact, ! I'm disposed to
think that quite the reverse J. the ease.
IT'S CITIZENS LOVE MERCEDES.
The Mercedes citizen will tell You two
things: First, hat he has the prettiest
town in Texas; andw, second. that he has
the best irrigation system of it, kind in
the world. dot not undertake to pass
final Judgment on either of the claims
but | can truly say that IL seems To be
q mighty pretty place, and also there seems
TO me. a. a lavman, Is be some very val
liable and distinctive features IN its lrri-
CATION system.
Irrigation il the life Of the Valley
with it everything il possible, without y.
nothing j. possible. Hence, il j. the one
absorbing question, with which everyone,
old and young alike, j. conversant. Even
the school children can give YOU figures on
the pumping capacity of n 36-inch pump.
TIE MERCEDES CANAL SYSTEM.
The total cost Of the Mercedes system.
owned by the American Rio Grande Land
& Irrigation Co, II approximately two mil
lion dollars-the cost Of the two pumping
plants, one on the river and one for the
second lift lands, is S375.OO0. The plant