Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-06-29

Progreso Haciendas, the name.
comes down through the romantic
history OF the Conquistadores OF
Mexico. Hacienda" in Spanish
means a beautiful home. an estate.
On the same July 4th, 1776, that
the signers Of u Declaration Of In
dependence put forth that revered
document that brought into being
our own great republic, Don Jose
de Hinojoso, a descendant Of the in
trepid followers of Cortez, applied TO
the Spanish crown for a land grant
on the north side of the Rio Grande
River. In due course Don Jose was
granted, in the name Of His Span
ish Majesty" acting through the
Governor of the Province Of New
S%antander, the twenty-five and one
half leagues. comprising the Llano
Grande Grant Of which "Progreso
Haciendas" is a part.
The descendants Of Don Jose es-
tablished the old village and hacien-
da OF "Progreso." This picturesque
old settlement. its church and
watch towers. and its homes for re-
tainers. still stands today.
Nearby the new and modern
'Progreso Haciendas" Is being de-
ve.oped. Here are building modern
homes in contrast TO those built OF
handmade, sun-dried brick, electric
lights already dim by comparison
the glimmer Of the wick and tallow
vessel used by the descendants OF
Cortez and Montezuma - automo-
biles have replaced the OK cart. and
hard surfaced roads the trail that
once wound its way around the jun
gle covered shores of "Lago de las
Leonas."
The Progreso Development Com
pany presents a mean Of purchas-
ing a citrus fruit orchard, and a
method Of developing it. The prop
osition is sound in conception ana
practice; ID offers a worthwhile, long
time investment with a permanent
source Of income, and a proposition
that will require no attention for
three years. The Company assumes
the responsibility Of developing and
caring for each tract.
There is a great deal Of work.
worry. time and study attendant
upon the beginning OF any enter
prise which Is TO be intelllgently d.
rected and protected. Through this
plan. the purchasers are relieved OF
ali these preliminary burdens OF
launching the project, and are left
free to pursue their " business az
fairs until the work is we'll started.
and permanent growth has begun.
Net many have extensive knowl-
edge Of the character Of citrus fruits.
or the management and care OF a
fruit orchard. BY citrus fruits. We
mean oranges. grapefruit, lemons,
lines. and tangerines.
The breath Of Romance and Ira
dition still clings to the orange and
the grapefruit. For centuries. there
has been no real wedding without
the wreath OF orange blossoms for
the bride. Just where and when
this custom started. no n GEMS TO
know. but the blossom OF the orange
was probably chosen because OF It's
rarity. productivity. perfection and
fragrance; or perhaps II was IA
vored because for many years It
grew only In Spain and Italy. those
far countries which have always
spelled romance and adventure.
Tradition has it, that the early trees
In this country were introduced and
planted in California and Florida
by the Spanish Mission Fathers, and
were carefully nurtured and pre-
served by them. From these small
beginnings the citrus industry OF
the United states has sprung y. a
romance in itself.
Those people in their late thirties
can remember when oranges were
most uncommon. a rarity. a delicacy
for the sick room. or a peculiar treat
for Christmas, and when grapefruit
was a curiosity, neither particularly
palatable nor popular. 1t remained
for the United States TO develop the
fruits so that there is now a great
demand for them; and for the Rio
Grande Valley Of Texas TO produce
a grapefruit entirely free OF that
earlier bitter taste, one needing no
sugar. Today, the orange and the
grapefruit have been placed on the
table Of every American home as
staples. necessary articles Of diet.
within the reach Of everyone, but
never cheap. There Is such q con-
slant demand for citrus fruits, and
the growing acreage Is 50 limited.
that with rational husbandry and
simple marketing arrangements, the