The Arizona sentinel., 1885-06-27
The Lower GNa.

ald," written Hon. Patrick Hamilton, o
 Phenix, commissioner of Emigration fol
 Arizona Territory:
 THs LOWER CHA.
 About twelve miles west of Phenix tht
 Gila and Bait rivers unite their waters ana
 from that point of june ton to the Color
 ado the stream is known as tho Gila. Be
 fore reaching Yuma the river form,
 several fine valleys. What is known 8.
 the Gila Bend Valley Is about 60 miles
 west of Phenix and ten miles north of the
 station of the same name on the
 Southern Pacific road. It is estimated
 there are in this neighborhood 150,000
 acres of exceedingly rich land. Several
 canals have been located to bring water
 on this extensive tract and considerable l work has been done, but ae the promoters are men of limited means the enterprise
 lags for want Of capital. The soil and
 climate of this region are unequsled for
 fruit culture. Grain has also been tried,
 and the yield per acre is something phenomenal. The climate IS similar to
 that of Phoenix, and the proximity of the railroad provides a ready means of send ing produce to market. For colonies to engage in fruit culture there is here nns chance to secure lands with prolific soil and abundance of water, having railroad close at hand. Still further down the Gila and Mohawk Valley is reached. It is a short distance north of Mohawk station on the railroad. There Is here stretch of rich bottom land containing z5OO0 acres that will grow every variety of grains, grasses, fruits and vegetables raised in the Territory. The soil ls a rich loam of durable fertility, and the water supply Is abundant at all seasons to reclaim every foot of it. A company has recently been formed in Yuma for the purpose of re. claiming this magnificent valley by the l excavation of canal from the Gila. The | have secured the co-opera- tion of outside capital, and the enterprise is in fair way of being carried to com. plstion st an early day. This tract, now regarded as 6 desert. will soon afford | homes for scores of families. Scarcely any clearing will be required. and 90 prolific is the soil, and SO rapid the growth of tree, shrub or plant, that the settler can within a year surround hls home with handsome shade trees, snd change the verdureless plain iato blooming garden. When I make this statement do not exaggerate, as your readers will understand when they call to mind the many beautiful and thriving colonies in Southern California 8 few years ago unsightly wastes, but which are now held at $I0O and e15O per acre. The soil in the valleys of the lower Gila is much richer, and with water brought upon it, will produce anything and every. hing grown in the valleys of Southern California. That it will cecome equally IS valuable when its advantages and capabilities are known and understood, here is no reason to doubt.
 VALLEY OF THE COLORADO.
 The valley of the Colorado is perhaps te richest body of land in Arizona. Like he famous Delta of old Nile, the great iver in Its course for ages from it's noun. ain home to the sea, has brought a vast mount of detritus, much of which has ound lodgment in the valley, forming nc of the richest soils on the globe 'ome parts of tho valley are subject to al early overflow; and under its ssmi- ropio sun the rapid growth of vegetation , s something wonderful. Weeds, grasses nd underbrush reach an amazing height fter tho waters recede. The Indiana dig ! hallow holes with [ sharp-pointed stick . n the rich soil and drop the seed. No ttempt is made at cultivation, yet tho rowth is something marvellous, and Vithin three months corn and vegetables ave fully ripened. No better soil or nore suitable climate for sugar cane, emp, rice, tobacco and cotton, can be ound on tho continent. Below Yuma emp is found growing wild, and the fibre said to be of an excellent quality. The s 'te Thomas Blythe, of San Francisco, was I ngaged in the reclamation of extensive racts on the right bank of the Colorado, bove Yuma, and also in Lower California. [e had already demonstrated that the 1. taples mentioned could be grown suc- essfully, and if he had lived would no oubt have achieved a grand success. he orange and the lemon find in the alley of the Colorado and the lower Gila climate especially suited to their culti. ation. In the gardens of Yuma are at