The Arizona sentinel., 1889-12-07
Fruits, Flowers and Farms Along the Farmers irrigatlng Canal.
AZTEC, A. T., Dec. 2, '89.

EDITOR SENTlNEL.-1 Oui NO1 respondent has just reached this point on his tour through a portion of the Gila Valley, lying in Yuma county. It is my first visit for more than a year to this section of country, and I am more than sur prised. Up and down the river for miles, what was once tangled wilderness is now undergoing rapid transformation through the agen- cies of irrigation, cultivation and active husbandry. Houses and fences are everywhere, and beauti- ful homes are being created. So far, my time has only allowed me to visit that portion of the valley subject to the influence of the Farmers Canal, and this letter will be confined to a brief description of that section, leaving for other com munications an account of those places and improvements that lie under other canals.
 It was about year and a half ago that those who had settled in the valley upon lands lying be- tween Agua Caliente Springs on the east, and a point few miles west of the head of the Purdy Canal, de termined to construct a canal for the redemption of their filings on Government land. It was an un- dertaking, considering surrounding circumstances, requiring much courage, determination and great and persistent labor. But two or three of the settlers had money to advance in procuring necessary supplies of food and forage, but nearly all had teams and willing hands, and they went to work with a will, and kept on to success with an indomnitable pluck that cannot but excite admiration. The result is the Farmers Canal, which to- day is running splendid head of water-suficient to render fruitful in agricultural wealth many thous- and acres of land. Many farms are fenced, cleared, and cultivated, and the balance are being fenced and cleared ready for cultivation.
 Among those who have culti- vated and planted are the follow ing: Clinton Larmer, J. Bain- bridge, Jacob Wesner, O. D. Full ton, Geo. Lacey, Wm. Wrage, A. J. Reiss, E. L. Storment, D. c. Whaley, Frank Wham, J. E. Nel- son, R. B. Martin, A. E. Martin, Daniel Murphy, J. B. Martin, J. H. Sinner, J. c. Storment, T. J. Wham, Joseph Culver, D. B. Morris, L, Notbush, Clarence Gray, c. w. Carter, LIZ. Gray, John Sevenoaks, James Powell, Richard Marable, c. c. Gray, James Hammel, w. H. Housh, Samuel Gumbles, Charles Cunningham, H. R. Reed and Frank Scales. There are others whose names have escaped me.
 The Farmers Canal is operated by an incorporated company, but the stock is all held by the actual settlers, and no future expense will attach to them except as to neces- sary repairs.
 Among the products now being
  raised, in this section, I noticed sorghum, corn, wheat, oats, barley, and a great many varieties of veg etables and flowers; also fig, al- mond, umbrella, orange, pome- granate and mulberry trees. There are great many grape cuttings set out, and few date trees. All these products show marvellous growth since planting, and it re- quires but a slight effort of the imagination to realize what won derfully productive and beautiful country the Farmers Canal will create within the next two or three years.
 I had the pleasure of being at a dance at the house of MT. Seven oaks on Thanksgiving night, which was attended by large gathering of ladies and gentleman from the surrounding country.
 Genial Dick Marable, aided by his charming wife, treated your cores. pondent with hospitality that had no ending and can never be forgotten. He and Jim Powell are holding their part of the country down with de