Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-12-28
MISSION HOME
OF GRAPEFRUIT
Was Only A Village Ten
Years Ago AT Edge
Of Valley

The Home Of the Grapefruit
which ten years ago was a small
town at the western edge of the
Valley. has practically doubled in
size in these ten years and has
witnessed the edge of the cultivated
area Of the Valley pushed on west
ward until 1t Is now the center OF
a great agricultural section.
This is Mission.
For miles in every direction
stretch thousands and thousands OF
acres of citrus
The Goodwin tract with its $4,000
acres OF irrigated land west of Mis-
sion. Other tracts and districts in
al directions.
Missions place as the center OF
tine greatest grapefruit section o
the Valley has become more secure
the past few years as the develop
ment has spread westward.
Ten years ago Mission had q pop
ulation of $500, which has jumped
to 5,1l9 early in 1880. The valua-
tons Of the city are S2.765, OO0,
which shows a steady growth dur
ing the past ten years.
Many Public Works
Missions public works are among
the best obtainable. The city dur
ing the past ten years has paved
10 miles of city streets. built a
modern water plant and sanitary
sewer system and during the past
few years has completed a large
CITY hall and fire station. with a
Lublic library in part Of the build
ing.
place for city meetings OF sever
al hundred persons is furnished IN
the hall, as a small auditorium Is
located on the second floor.
During the next few years. Mis-
sion plans a large program OF *
pansion, which includes a munich
pal airport. municipal golf course,
more packing and shipping iaclil-
ties for citrus and vegetables. and
additional railroad facilities, ac-
cording to A. II. Strahle, president
n Mrs. T. c. Gill, secretary OF
the Mission Chamber Of Commerce.
Has Six Schools
The city has six schools, the pub
lie schools being members Of n
Association of Accredited High
Schools and Colleges, and first IN
the state in attendance and pune
tuality. among the highest six per
cent in the state in scholarship.
This remarkable record OF Mis-
sion schools has been built up under
the capable leadership Of Sid Har-
din. superintendent for a number OF
years.
Mission maintains its place as
head of the Valley in shipments
Of citrus fruit. justifying its name
Of Home of the Grapefruit" and
is also first IN the Valley in the
number of citrus trees planted IN
its area. having a total of more than
a million trees. or greater than ONE
sixth of the total number IN the
Valley.
Headquarters for the Texas Cit
rus E,uit Growers Exchange are To-
xsted in Mission and the citrus de-
4relopment Of this section has been
I6ue in a large measure to the act
Whites OF John Shary, Leading citi-
ZEN and head Of the Exchange, the
Valleys strongest and most active
f.sure for years in the advance
mcnt OF citrus.
Another respect in which Mission
ranks high is its efficient volunteer
fire department. under Ross A. Mar
Gus. now mayor of the city. The
city has the best record in the
section for a volunteer department
and n of the best in the state.
The city is being rapidly connected
I'D with the important territory
on all sides by more paved highways
and the development to the west.
where citrus is vieing now for at
tention with oil. promises to mean
much to the section in the way OF
development.
Progressive Mission residents are
building now. preparing to take adj
vantage Of this.