Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 45, Ed. 1 Friday, December 26, 1919 Page: 2 of 6
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PAGE TWO
OHIO EDITOR FINOS VALLEY
Ohio 0F opportlyity
m'
Do your banking
with the
MERCEDES BANK OF COMMERCE
(Guaranty Fund Bank) mg
mtouH * ™E BI'D’6- 1
McMurry Lumber Co.
Everything in LUMBER and
builders material
PAINT
Now is the time and
‘ Paint Devoe” we sell it.
McMurry Lumber Co.
Mercedes, Texas
ley is fanned by the gentle Trade
Winds from the gulf, and during the
middle of the hottest day, ^ a
son desires to cool off, standing ox
sitting in the shade will accomplish
the desired effect That’s where the
“siesta” comes in. !
The Soil
The soil of the Valley is an allu-
vial deposit and represents the silt |
and decaying vegetation brought
down by the Rio Grande for count-1
less ages—'before the river took its j
present unchangeable course. It is i
the very cream of all soils, possess-
ing all the elements to produce boun-1
tiful crops. The soil ranges m depth -
it is said, from ten to forty feet. We
saw canals down there—newly made
canals—that were fifteen or sixteen
feet in depth, and the soil was just
the same on the bottom of the canais
as on the surface of the ground.
Labor Proposition.
The labor situation in Southern:
Texas is not much of a problem for j
farmers. There are plenty of Mexi-
cans who are always wanting woik.
If there is no work to be had they
seem to be apparently satisfied. U
there is work for them they simply
go ahead and do it. Mexicans are
now getting $1.00 and $1.25 per day
and board themselves. They live a
sort of “nomad’* life—that is they
don’t seem to have a settled home.
They just camp on the job and it
doesn’t require very much of a shel-
ter to satisfy them.
Mr. A. E. Kusian, mayor of Wal-
hridge, who bought a 28-acre larm m
the Valley, and who remained theie
to clear up and plant crops this win-
ter spoke to the leader of the Mex-
ican orchestra at the Club House,
telling him he wanted 25 men to go
to clearing for him on Monday morn-
ing with the stipulation that one of
them must be able to speak English
and to act as foreman. Mr. Kusian
was assured on Saturday morning |
that the number of men he wanted,
would be on hand at the time spec-,
ified.
According tostatements by natives j
it doesn’t make any difference j
whether it is one or two hundred i
men the same condition prevails.
Just how long such a condition will
continue, we are unable to say.
is safe to predict, however, that some
Union organizer will be geeting m
his work at no distant day.
Golden Opportunities
There is no question about num-
erous opportunities being offered
farmers and speculators inthe Rio
Grande Valley. They fairly stick out
on every side. A farmer doesn t have
to be very “choicy” to embark into
paying business down there. He can
go “single-gaited” or double up to
suit his fancy. For instance, if he
has a fancy for hog raising or cat-
tle. raising, the opportunity is there,
with pasture the year round. It he
takes kindly to trucking, there isn t
a better place in the world for cab-
bage, Bermuda onions, beans, head
lettuce, beets, eggplants, potatoes
etc. I never saw such a fine quality
of head lettuce as was growing in
the Valley while we were there
sweet and crisp. Then, if you want
to be a horticulturist, the opportu-
nity is unlimited. We saw many-
large and small citrus groves of all
kinds.
We visited one farm where a young
farmer and his wife from Illinois
I located in the Valley a year ago this
! December. He is a hog-raiser They
; cleared off their place—and ihe lit-
tle wife said she thought it was just
a bit of wildest place in the Valle},
built a neat bungalow and put up the
necessary outbuildings and proceed
ed to raise hogs. They have already
sold $5,000 worth of porkers—Po-
land Chinas—and still have a pretty
good drove of 115 head on hand.
Mind you, they have only lived there
twelve months.
We saw fields of corn— second j
crop; broom corn, sugar cane, and
Rhodes grass, a product of South
Africa, which is proving a very val-1
uable crop; sorghum cane and al-
falfa.
Wild and Wooyli
I Now don’t think for a minute that
S uncleared land down in the Rio
I Grande Valley is anything like the
1 timber land of the North. It isn t.
It is overgrown with a jumbled mass
of mesquite and mesquite grass.
“Mesquite” is said to be a Mexican
Indian word. One can scarcely woik
his way through the prickly mass.
Some of the trees grow to the size
of our apple trees. On a cleared
tract where mesquite trees have
1 been’ left standing, they look all the
world like an orchard from, a dis-
tance. Perhaps, in centuries gone
by they were a sort of an apple
tree. The timber isn’t worth any- j
thing except for firewood,
And it seems so strange to see
and know, as I have experienced,
that a number of Mexicans can go
on a piece of land, clear same oft
I as clean as a whistle in a few days,
1 plow the land and plant same—all
i within a period of ten days. It costs
j $25 per acre to have the land cleai-
ed.
---—-o—■——-
Social Events of
Etiquette of Walking.
When in the street, especially in
daytime, a lady is not supposed to
take a gmihv.ir.n’s arm, unless she
is infirm or elderly, t.iojgn Mie
nrooer’v do so at nir,.it. v. hen
;ny with two ladies a-gentleman mar
• vrdk on the outside, or the inside,- or,
rather, the side from which he can
i er-: guard his companion or compan-
ions from obstacles or danger. It is
not good form to take a lady s arm,
unless to assist her in some way.
A Drop of Water.
If a drop ' f water could be magnl-
ied to the size of the earth, each o?
*s molecules would appear no larger
han a baseball.
Sliriners to Give Bail.
Shrinenrs up and down the Valley,
are planning for a Happy New Year
The San Benito Shriners have sent j
out invitations to a Shrine hall io
he given New Year’s eve at the ban
Benito hotel.
<*> <«> <S>
Birthday' Party
Little Miss Virginia Winn cele-
brated her seventh birthday Tuesday
afternoon, December 23, from three
to five, by entertaining her little
friends.’ The rooms were gay with
1 Christmas decorations and after ad
1 miring and playing with the many,
! toys and gifts which the little guests
'brought, they went out on the lawn
for games and a frolic. Delicious
! refreshments were served.
<$> <§>
I Enjoyable Christmas Dinner
! Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Witmer enter-
tained with a beautiful 1 o’clock
dinner on Christmas day. It was
a joyful party assembled around the
: artistically decorated table and the
Yuletide spirit pervaded throughout
the afternoon.
Those present were Mesdames
King, Shaw, Finley and Ragland and
Messrs. Lingenbrink, Shaw, William
Ragland and Brewer Witmer.
<$> <$> <*>
Christmas Theatre Party.
Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Kern, Jr. ex-
tended Yuletide hospitality to a few
of their friends after a theatre par-
ty at the Empire cii Christmas night.
Those who participated in this
pleasant affair were Messrs and
Mesdames R. B. Hadden, Frank Had-
den, Will Hadden, of Ft. Stockton,
Lee Reader, Wynne Garrison, Mes-
dames Lockett, A. B. Scott, Miss Bess
Holden and John Herndon and
Lieutenant Pickering.
<S> <s> <*>
Parent-Teachers’ Reception
The Parent-Teachers Association
will hold a reception Jan. 1st at 7:30
o’clock at the high school auditori-
um. Everyone interested in the wel-
fare of the school is invitod to at-
tend. The following program will be
giv6H •
& Solo, Mrs. Hager; address, Mayor
Hoyt; solo, Mrs. Harshman; reading
Miss ’ Morrow; instrumental solo.
Mrs. McLelan; address, Mr. Carey;
reading, Miss Mita Nutt; address,
Miss Buck.
<$><$><§>
Mrs. Perkins Entertains.
A charming event of the many
Christmas gaities was the dance giv-
en by Mr. and Mrs. P. W. Perkins
Tuesday night, Dec. 23, at their
home. Delicious punch was served
and the Perkins home was artistic-
ally enhanced with Christmas bells
and poinsettias. Those enjoying the
evening were Mr. and Mrs. Harshman
Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle, Mr. and Mrs.
McClelen, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Van
Meter, Misses Ruth Stuart, Hazel Van
Mete, Messrs, Hmvze,^
well.
<$>
College Students^
The Rio Grande rt
the Texas A. and M. is
Christmas hop Saturday nj
the Stewart Club House nej
cedes. Young men and woi
lege students who are spenc
holidays in the Valley have hi
yited and it is expected tbj
or more will be present. The ^
promises to be one of the most
orate social events ever attempt^
this section and is being arrai _,
by Brewer Witmer and Dave BlacI
well. The Sixteenth Cavalry orches
tra has been engaged for the oc|
casion.
<§> <§• <$>
Musical Club.
The Mercedes Musical club
in regular session Monday at
Empire Theatre, the president, Mi
Bagg, presiding. The following coi
mi trees were elected: Mrs. McClelJ
an, pianist; Mesdames Wade, Viningl
Morrison, Carothers, Van Meter, Ws-J
sayists; Mrs. Perkins, assistant P^T^P
reporter; Mrs. Stuart, social/ 'ami
house; Mrs. Carothers, chairman ol
concert committee; Mts. Fergusoi
librarian; Mrs. Vining was electe
second vice-president.
The program consisted r of t\
i‘Eleanoi
il-d.’ MrJ
and
on ml
the
“Cuil
and reai
next ml
5tt
solos by Mrs. liars
and “Hear My Cry,
Bagg read an inters
structive paper, an
from thei ninth centu
ent. Mrs. Stuart
Events” for her subj
interesting paper, 'i
will be held Monday, Jan.
<$><*><$>
Meeting of Needle-Craft Clj
Amid autumn leaves, poi
and roses Mrs. J. S. McNeil w
hostess to the Needle-Craft
Friday afternoon. The hours,
rapidly and -refreshments of
er cake and Christmas fi
with coffee were served,
rothers assisted Mrs. McNei
ing. After many comp time
hostess the Yuletide feat'
afternoon tooM place. T
ed in an exchange of
“sight unseen” system,
“grabbed” and was per
fied with the gift they
The following membe'
ent: Mesdames Trot
King, Stuart, Bennett,
ner, Ruckel, Irby, Va
ble, Witmer and Mrs
The club had as t’
Wise, Mrs. McQuee
Ruth Bennett, Miss
ble, Miss Osie Me,
“Sunny Jim” .McQi^
Mrs. J. W. Irhyj
hostess on Jan. 9
of Mrs. C. T. Tr
rue
aril
Sri
L .j
1 i
Nrii
Eii]
|US
!HHi
pjs
DAIRY COWS BRING IN MONEY EVERY WEEK
THE HIDALGO COUNTY BANK
OLDEST STATE BANK IN THE VALLEY
There is still good season in the
ground. Start now afresh to PLOW your
land DEEP, conserve the moisture, be quick
to turn under the weeds
matter for Humus, and BE READY for
your winter truck crops now, and then the
staple crops in January E
MM TS THE TIME TO PLOW DEE!
THE HIDALGO COUNTY B
MAIL INQUIRIES GIVEN IMMEDIATE
PERSONAL ATTENTION
at your service
MERCEDE
■IE
an]
DAIRY COWS BRIN^ tn MONEY EVERY WEEK
{US
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Rector, J. F., Jr. Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 45, Ed. 1 Friday, December 26, 1919, newspaper, December 26, 1919; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth844727/m1/2/?rotate=270: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.