The Arizona sentinel., 1888-12-29
The Mohawk Canal In Yuma Co.

we are lhdeDted to Hon. Eugene
 TripEel for description of the several
 irrigating enterprises, now under way
 in Yuma County, and which, when
 completed, are expected to make that
 hitherto arid region rival the most
 favored portions of Southern Califor-
 mia in productiveness of soil. We
 have only space for that portion of the
 communication describing the Mohawk
 canal, as follows:
 'By far the most important irriga-
 ting enterprise here is the Mohawk
 canal, to be 24 miles long, of which
 more than 2l miles is now finished,
 the remainder to be completed by the contractor by December 3lst, current year. The canal Is 20 feet wide on
 the bottom, has a two to one slope on
 the sides, and an average fall of two feet to the mlle The water reaches the surface two miles from the head and will irrigate upwards of 10000 acres of magnificent lard in the Mo hawk Valley, not to mention a consi- derable area liable to overflow from the annual rise of the Gila, but which can readily be reclaimed by system of dykes and levees The headgate is a splendid piece of work, built of pine and crmented in place in rock.
 "Every available section of land has been taken up by settlers. A number of farms have been cultivated during the year, and in two or three months active farming will be prosecuted everywhere, immediately upon a full head of water being turned into the canal. The water supply is ample and constant; and different in these res poets from some other points along the river.
 Sorghum, the cereals and vegeta- bles of every description are cultivated. A great deal of alfalfa is planted and returns from three to five crops per annum. I am told George W. Norton produced GOO tons of sorghum from 10 acres as a first crop from land but imperfectly cleared, and will soon harvest a second crop which, it is ex- pected, will yield still more heavily.
 "Some fruit trees, such as peaches, pears, apricots, figs, nectarines, the citrus fruits and other varieties are planted and flourish well. Many acres are set 50 grapes which thrive magni fccntly. When it is considered that all fruits mature from six to twelve weeks earlier than in any portion of including the much vaunted gr ape and citrus districts of Los An geles and San Diego Counties, added to the fact that the Southern Pacific affords the best of transPortese;4.,-G fec ilities, and the location is something more than a day nearer the Eastern markets (the early maturing of pro- iucts afording ready sale both East and West) it can easily be rel llized that property in this vicinity will rapidly increase in value.
 ''In Yuma have plucked ripe To laY, Mission and several ether kinds # grapes June 2d, strawberries about February 25th to March 18th; apricots n March, and have bought ripe oran- res, lemons and lines in November, December and January. These per onal observations better illustrate the ingular advantages of this country han volumes upon climate, soil and Ill the attending accessories.
 'I may as well say here that all that
 have written concerning the Mohawk ruits, vegetables, etc., will apply very early to all the canals in course of obstruction lying along the Gila be ween the Maricopa line and the Colo ado River, with the advantage of 7w days earlier maturity in favor of he latter" ."-Silver Belt.