Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-21
BICCESTINLAND
TOWNBECOMES
EXP0RTCENTER
Irrigation Proves Prof
liable on Farms in
Starr County and Rio
: Crande City Section
BY Florence Johnson Scott

Savoring much of the old in
history, traditions and customs
yet steadily growing in popuIa
ton and business, Rio Grande
City, county seat of Starr coun-
ty, with population of $500 is
known as the largest inland
town in the United States. In the
early days steamboats, up the
Rio Grande were the mode OF trans
portation, but when they ceased to ex
ist, oxen teams, stage coaches, truck
lines, and autos came in their place
but no railroad.
30 while the neighboring counties to
to the east have developed in great
strides. by reason of their railways
and the advantages that railways bring
IN their trend-Starr county has in the
minds of many remained an OUTPOST on
the frontier.
Notwithstanding this prevalent idea,
without the aid of a railroad. Starr
county has by actual achievement. in
dustrialiy and agri~culturally made her
sell felt in the scheme of general af-
falrs of the Lower Valley.
NO booms have struck yet, but SURELY
and steadily bank deposits have crept
up new methods of agriculture have
been introduced. the population increas-
ed. until the so-called isolated county is
known, not only along the border. but
all over southwest Texas as one of the
nest of the te'sundeyeloped territor-
les.
Rich Lands
The rich acres of irrigable land. an
accurate survey of which has never
been made, are estimated at from 25. 900
to 100000 acres-and these only await
the completion of a railroad to be de-
veioped into small tracts. That
these Starr County lands compare fav-
orabiy-and in fact along the river. are
identical in formation to soil of the
irrigated land of Hidalgo and Cameron
Is no guess work, but a proven test.
SO far there are only two plantations
under irrigation, these being the six
hundred acre tract belonging to F. j.
betanzo, and known as the Santo Do
mingo plantation; and the larger farm
of Ratcliff Bros. 500 acres of which
is in cultivation. But from these two
farms alone there were shipped the past
season seventy-five carloads of veget-
ables, including cabbage, onions, and
cantloups.
The owners Of both these tracts oper-
ate their own pumping plants, and nave
been successful in the variety of crops
undertaken. And what can be done on
their land, can naturally be lone on
the adjoining farms, and in fact all
along the rich valley, as far up the
the river as Roma.
Besides these irrigated lands there
are $4,000 acres devoted to dry farming
with cotton as the principal crop. This
year. approximately 5000 bales were
raised on these lands, which was an in
crease over any previous year.
A low chain of hills traverse the old
river channel between Sam Fordyce
and Rio Grande City, narrowing the
valley land, but from Rio Grande City :
to Roma. the hills recede, leaving more |
tillable land. About half of this is farm
ed in small acreages. The hills are about
fifteen miles wide, and are used, as
well as the acres north of them as
grazing land. Then in the extreme north
eastern part of the county is found a
red sandy soil, where every year a fair
to good cotton crop is assured. This is
known as the La Reforma section.
Good Cattle Country
For many years Star County has !
known as a good cattle country, and
49, -. $500 n~n- -r:+,L1a s., Ill
purpose alone. The stock business will
no doubt continue for many years to
come. especially as there are a num-
Der of large ranches owned by leading
stockmen of the southwest. From re-
ports made by the tick inspectors APP
proximately eight thousand head Of
cattle were shipped from the county the
past year. Sheep and goats are raised
only in small herds, and more for Toe
consumption.
One industry that gives great prom
Use of growth is that of gravel shipping.
This can be obtained from the hills in
great quantities and local and state en-
ginsers say that it is of a superior quail
ity for concrete work, there being an
abundance of concrete sand available.
For the construction of the higway now
being built, the gravel is pitted from
the nearby hills along the new road,
cutting down transportation ex-
pense.
There are several small brick plants in
operation, and a good quality of brick
is turned out from a soil, found near
the river. Practically all business hous
es and the majority of residences of
Rio Grande City are built from the