The Mexican And Mexican American Laborers In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas 1870 1930 PDF Download

The primary purpose of this study was to present the little-discussed Mexican and Mexican-American labor contribution to the economic development of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas between 1870 and 1930. Special attention was given to their efforts in the citrus industry which became a major enterprise. Immigration laws, local and national Anglo attitudes and their effects on this numerous and apparently submissive people were discussed in length. Due credit has been given to the Burgos, Tamaulipas, residents who came to the Valley before, during, and after the Mexican Revolution in search of stability and better wages. In spite of the abuses they suffered some of them decided to stay. Their children (now Mexican-Americans), are still contributing to the citrus industry today, although not in the strenuous way their parents did. The various attempts which were made to develop the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas prior to the coming of the railroad in 1904 were all but futile. This situation, however, did not restrain Anglo businessmen from coming to the region in search of prosperity. They saw its potential if the available resources were properly tapped. The combination of inexpensive Valley land and cheap Mexican and Mexican-American labor attracted entrepreneurs to the area. They bought brushlands, had them cleared, and started irrigation projects in preparation for the crops they experimented with. Although not all Anglos prospered it was not because of the labor force they employed, but rather, to some extent, because of the poor transportation system available. They employed Mexicans and Mexican-Americans for all types of work. With the coming of modern transportation the Valley broke its economic isolation and in the process everyone benefited: Anglos from the use of cheap labor and Mexicans and Mexican-Americans from jobs which had previously been non-existent. The Valley owes a tremendous debt to those businessmen with foresight who encouraged the construction of a railroad line through the Valley and built irrigation systems, but the greatest debt for its success, as presented in this work, is owed to the Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.