Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1871-03-18
FIT. YUMA AND ARIZONA CITY.
Past, Present and PrOspective---A
Good Word.

small stock of notes relative to the sit
uation implied in the above caption,
and while the railroad fever is on,
and before said notes become worn out,
it is the purpose to run off short
sketch for luck There will be in
termittent town-lot manias all along
the line during the building and after
the completion of the road-it is taken
for granted that the Immigrant given
by Congress to the Texas Pacific COM
pany has received the sanction of Presi-
dent Grant, and that the company is
a bona-fide one; that we have had
wind enough and will now soon have
some work IF the kind most needed.
There are many items of historic in
terest pertaining to the subject in ques-
ton, that may be news to many read
ers of The CITIZEN, and not out of
place generally in this connection. In
the matter of hot weather, of course,
every one has heard all about
FORT YUMA
This noted position is in California
as is also the celebrated Colorado des-
ert'-both of which, however, are too
frequently spoken Of abroad as Arizo-
ma institutions. The Colorado, at the
mouth of the ella, runs due west for
some miles. The post is ON the north
side few rods below the ella, and
located on a rocky table Or plateau,
which shows signs of early fortifca-
ton. In 100, one Father Kino es-
tablished mission thereon, but the
natives after awhile concluded to bust
that game of Kino. 1t is a question
whether this was the origin of the pop
ular game, but it nevertheless recalls
that described by the Dutchman, who
heard the winning man holler out
'geeno, after which all dem oder vel
lers hollered out ooh, helP!" This
spot-the site OF Yuma, is in latitude
1888. longitude 114.36; is above sea
level $50 feet; has an average temp
erature of 1886. Key west, In lati-
tude 24.32, has had an average heat
for one year of 76.43. Yuma Is thus
the hottest place in the Union during
certain months-the hottest day re-
corded at the post, was June 16, 1859
mercury 119. This sort Of thing lasts
SO to speak for two or three months,
but no extra sickness is engendered;
all in all very healthy locality.
Much exaggeration regarding the
weather at Yuma-John Phenix said
that when a soldier died there he usu-
ally returned after his blankets. The
whites don't require much clothing,
and the natives great deal less.
Dogs are said to limp across the pa
rade ground and howl with pain on
the way. In short, were all these
stories true, it would seem to require
species of humanity to properly in
habit that section, like Sidney Smith
suggested-persons who could remove
their flesh at will like any other cloth
ing, and give the breeze every possible
sway. The atmosphere is very dry
so much so that no matter how much
water is poured into the human recep-
tacle, it will refuse to perspire, etc. etc.
It is said that in such cases the inhab-
itants occasionally pour in little
whisky. About 3 inches of rain falls
during the year at Yuma-in showers,
short and decisive; sometimes so sud-
den that a family occupying an adobe
will be buried alive in mud before
they can get the door open. This we
don't vouch for either.
To better protect the Texas emigra-
ton to California in early times, Ma
ior (row Gen. S. P. Heintzelman was
directed to establish temporary post
at Yuma, which he did Nov. 81, 1850.
He abandoned it In 81. According to
orders, he returned, and in Feb. %,
'52, he commenced a permanent post
at Yuma. Soon after this, while Lit.
Stoneman (now General commanding
Dept. of Arizona) was escorting in a
provision train, he was attacked by