Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-22
Former Latuless Borderland Transformed Into Region
Of Remarkable Productivity and General Prosperity

history In the achievement OF agri-
cultural, industrial and civic prog
ress without parallel in the South.
From the days the Spanish con-
querors moved northward from
Tampico and took possession of the
Lower Rio Grande, up to the time
the first railroad was built into
brownsville in 1904, the Lower Rio
Grande Valley was noted only as
the borderland, abode Of lawless
elements Of two nations. It's his
tory was written in strife, in border
warfare and bandit raids, but
throughout the entire region where
little more than a generation ago
the six-shooter was the arbiter OF
justice, there has been established
n Of the most intenSively cult
waited areas in the South, an area
which is producing more agricul-
tural tonnage per acre than any
similar area in the United States.
In less than twenty years a COM
plete Transformation has been
wrought. The dense mesquite brush
and cactus has been replaced by
citrus fruit orchards, intensively
cultivated winter vegetable farms
and immense cotton fields. Cities
have sprung up and expanded.
Brownsville, which since 1886 had
been the principal city on the
American side Of the border, has
developed into q city Of $4,000 pop
ulation, with no indications OF the
former strenuous days of frontier
life in evidence. Between Browns
lille and Mission at the west end
of the Valley there are now ten
thriving cities ranging in population
from 1900 to 10000. all connected
by a paved highway. which ex-
tends the length Of the Valley. IN
the entire are there are nov
twenty-five cities and towns. all
supported by agricultural territory
that Is rapidly developing.
Large Area Irrigated
Approximately 100000 acres has
been placed under irrigation, and
projects contemplated and under
way will bring the total irrigated
aera up to 10000 acres. Thou
sands Of acres in the un-irrigated
sections have been brought under
cultivation, producing principally
cotton. Development Of the citrus
industry has been rapid, and over
$4,000 ares are now planted TO or
chards. Citrus production last sea-
son was $500 cars and will exceed
5000 this year. When the entire
acreage comes into bearing, fruit
shipments should average from 25,-
600 to $4,000 cars annually.
Production Of winter vegetables
Is one Of the chief industries Of the
Valley. Shipments have increased
from 1000 cars in 1922 TO 22,OOC
cars In the 192S-29 season. Gotten
production has shown a similar
gain, the 1929 crop for the counties
of Cameron, Hidalgo. Starr and
Willacy exceeding 100000 bales as
compared with 10000 bales in 1922.
Valuations in the four Valley
counties, which in 1904 were under
S. 100000, now exceed $40. 900 900.
and Hidalgo and Cameron counties
rank tenth and fourteenth, re-
spectively, in wealth among the
counties Of Texas, ranking highest
among the agricultural counties.
This record has been attained by
the fact that the entire Valley Is
q two and three-crop country.
Shipments OF agricultural products
are made every month OF the year,
though the peak Of shipments Is
reached during the late winter sea
son, when thousands Of carloads OF
cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, green
beans and green corn and other
commodities roll out Of the Valley
for the northern markets.
Served by Two Railroads
The Valley is now served by two
railroads-the Missouri Pacific and
the Southern Pacific, which extend
ed It's line from Falfurrias to Ed
tnburg and Harlingen in 1927
completed an extension to Browns
VILE in 1927. The Missouri Pacific
lines run through the center OF the
irrigated area, and also serve a
large section of the unlrrigateo
area. The Southern Pacific ira
verses the northern part Of the If
riRated section in Hidalgo county,
and through the center Of the irrl-
gated areas in Cameron county. IL
also serves a large area In the non
irrigated section, which Is rapidly
developing cotton and truck pro-
duction. That the Valley is well
served by these roads Is indicated
bv the fact that during the 1923
season Valley winter vegetables
were shipped into 46 OF the 40
states of the Union.
In no agricultural section OF the
United States has building been
more active. Large hotels have
been erected at Brownsville, san
Benito. Harrington. Weslaco, Meal
len and Edinburg: from two 70 ten
tourist camps have been erected In
each Valley city 70 provide faclll-
ties for the tourists who are find
ne in the Lower Rio Grande Val
lev the climate and attractions that
have an almost irresistible appeal.
TRANSPORTATION Develops Tonnage
TRANSPORTATION has been the
foundation upon which Valley
nrosperity has been developed, and
each addition to the transporta-
tion facilities has been reflected IN
increased development. The acqui-
sition of the Gulf Coast Lines by
the Missouri Pacific in 1924 was
followed by improvement OF ran
Facilities which assured excellent
service and good markets for the
nerishable products Of the valley
FARMS. The entrance Of the South
arr Pacific has been followed by IN
fensiye development Of large areas