Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-11-04
LAUDS
VALLEY AFTER
MAKING TOUR
Illinois Man Gives
Prominent Display
To Story Of Visit;
Buys Land Here

DdyS GdkIQ IGTc
Writing under the largest head
used in his newspaper and display
ing it in the outside column of page
one, the most prominent place in any
newspaper, L. ". Cobb, editor and
publisher OF the Crystal Lake IND
Herald, tells Of a visit TO this sec
tion and calls the Valley the garden
spot of the world-the land Of OPP
p~ortunity."
As a head over this article, which
is more than "a column IN length, he
uses Opportunity awaits in the
Lower Valley Of the Rio Grande. a
land Of fertile farms and prosperous
people. Has a Bright Future. Gil
mate and Soil are ideal for Negc-
tables and Citrus Fruit Culture"
Cobb was brought TO the Valley BY
G. +. Hurst. local real estate man.
While here the editor bought land in
the Mercedes section.
Sees State
The article, which is highly lauda-
tory throughout, follows:
Mention the State Of Texas. or any
part of ii. to the average individual
III the north and thta person immc-
diatcly thinks Of a hot, semi-desert
country, with little vegetation other
than a few scattered patches Of sage
brush, inhabited largely by rattle
snakes. horned toads and bull frogs
which have never seen water or had
an opportunity TO learn how TO swim.
Such was the idea Of the writer until
| made n trip through the state just
recently.
Having toured over a large part If
Texas. including an extended trip
through the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
n complete reversal OF former i'm
prcssions was brought about. The
state is now v~isualized 3s a land in
which are located many fine ranches.
splendid cities. towns and villages,
happy industrious. prosperous. con-
tented people. The Lower Rio Grandc
Valley is remembered as the garden
snot az the world-thc land N oppor-
tuuity.
Saw Orchards
Leaving Chicago Oct. q. the party,
with which the writer visited the state
arrived in Harrington, Texas, the
morning Of October :. Here we were
met BY A fleet Of automobiles piloted
~ residents Of The Valley and
were conveyed over a large section
az the southeast ID Edinburg IN the
west. through beautiful villages,
towns and cities as well as country
districts IN which are located hun
dreds Of prosperous farms. truck
gardens and citrus fruit orchards.
The first stop was at the estate
Of Mrs. p. II. Cooke, one mile east Of
la Feria.
Mrs. Cooke went from Now York
tod Texas about eight years ago 2
citv woman who had lived N a New
York apartment. knowing nothing OF
agriculture or horticulture she
has made good. Her estate consists
of IL acres, all Of which. with the
execution of the home site. IS devoted
10 citrus fruit orchards. From these
orchards She has become ~incepcnd-
entity well off with a large income, 2
beautiful home with ideal surround
inrs. Her story of how she went into
"Thc Valley" totally ignorant III
farm life. started her orchards and
watched them mature and make her
independent as few women are
sounded like a dream or fairy tale.
See Carter Trees
The next stop was at the VIM.
Morrison place. Mr.. Morrison went
io "Ihc valley nine years ago. Ills
plare vas then In the brush. Today
NV has 55 acres IN citrus fruit and
viii have 100 acres next year. he ~
nncratirr on a much larger scale than
nv average settler m The valley,
deyotes considerable land 20 vege-
tables. and is going IN for dairying.
One grapefruit grove yielded him a
net profit OF Sl31O per acre and he
has been offered for this orchard
which nine years ago was a wilder
ness, $500 pct acre, but refused to
~ell.
Leaving the Morrison farm the
MARTY wa taken "a tho Carter place
known As Lake View Orchard and
Nursery and operated by Mr.. and
Mrs. +. VI. Carter.
The Carter farm is the show
rlace Of "The valley and rs located
MONT three miles from Mercedes. a
prosperous town of about 5000 pop
ulation. with modern schools,
churches. business houses and homes.
The story az the success NJ Mrs.
Carter ia the growing Of citrus fruit
seems unbelievable unless one is
standing on her estate with bearing
.itrrs fruit trees surrounding him as
d;d tho writer while he listened 10
her tale. u.-
Mrs. Carter went q "The Valley
fourteen wears ago-a little lady,
frail III health. who hoped ~ iind
there \ climate which would build
III her delicate body and restore her
~ health. Not alone did she at
tain this end but in so doing de-
veloped a business which has made
her a fortune. provided her with a
rnla,ial home. one Of the finest IN
aTbc Valley" educated her chill
srcn and permitted her husband IL
tive III his practice Of dentistry and
lain her IN the development Of the
broad acres which comprise inc
Carter farm and nursery.
Three Year Trees Bear
ON the Cater place we saw grape
fruit trees only three years old
which were II feet high. producing
i50 frui. rer tree. as we'll as acre
after acre or older trees laden with
fruit. We saw commercial date
trees producing $50 pounds Of drom-
edarv dates per tree. This, by the
way. IS one Of the great future pro-
duets OF THE Valley a perfect
shipper. a gradual ripener, and one
which brings fancy prices for the
fresh fruit. which is delicious
According TO Mrs Carter there
has never been a citrus grove fail
ure III the entire Valley Of the Rio
Grande. where the grove was given
anv sufficient amount Of care.
The Valley is practically frost
rroof. with only light touches when
il does occur. Gentle light frosts
lContinued on page twol