The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1890-08-09
Y.Essu's wild gseEnp.

II is a fact not generally under
stood, though it may be well known
that the country adjacent to Yuma
possesses one single resource, which
is, in and of itself, almost Of inval-
liable benefit to the place.
On both sides of the Colorado
river, from Yuma nearly to the
Gulf Of California, but principally
on the westside of the river, and be-
low the U. S. boundary line, in
Lower California, the wild hemp
grows spontaneously in great
abundance. The growth is perfect
ly, wonderful he stalk reaches a
height of from 30 to % feet, but
averaging from u to Is feet.
This great nbre product Or plant,
covers an area of not less than $4,000
acres and the lowest estimate ever
made places the animal yield of the
prepared or clean fibre at 500 lbs
per acre, or 25,000,000 lbs equal to
$4,000 tons, or 1850 carloads Of 10
tons each.
- 1t is estimated, that to cut and
prepare this for market, will cost 3
cents per pound, or $4,000, arate
of freight to San Francisco Of 81
per ton has been offered. The
freight at this rate would amount
to $S7,5O0 annually. The harvest
ing of this amount Of hemp would
give employment to from 300 to
500 Indians for or 5 months each
year.
1t has been estimated that in the
best years, like the present, the
product would be increased 10 fold
in which case, if all Of it was har-
vested, it would require 81 100000
to pay for the labor and $4,000
for freight.
Most Of the fibre grows within 2
to 4 miles Of the Colorado river,
although in places it is found back
for from 10 to 20 miles. It is main
ly found along the arroyos or nat
ural canals and lower lands, which
are overfowed, or filled with water,
in the high waters of the Colorado.
1t can be cut, and the outside or
woody matter can be removed by
passing it through brake, similar
to that used in the manufacture OF
fax. This can be done on the
ground where the hemp grows, and
thus save the hauling and freight
on the extraneous matter, leaving
only the fibre to be packed in bales
and shipped.
Using Indians labor, the fibre can
be prepared, baled and transported
to the Colorado at an expense not
TO exceed 3 cents per pound. Even
supposing that the freight should
reach $40 per ton to San Francisco,
this would make the cost Of pro-
duction and dilivery 81 cents pei
pound.
The lowest price offered for the
prepared fibre delivered in San Fran.
cisco, is 5 cents per pound, which
leaves a profit of $50 per ton, OF
$4,000 for the crop per year, at
the lowest estimate, of the yield, in
the poorest years. This offer has
been made for the fibre in 10,00(
ton lots, by an English company
already engaged in the manufact-
ure of rope, cordage-twine, sacks
and mating.
a wealthy German Company en-
gagged in the same industry after
having experimental with the
hemp made an offer Of 8 cents pei
,,,urd, in 10000 ton lots, delivered
at the mouth of the Colorado river,
or IN San Francisco, which could
leave a profit of 800 per ton or ST.
$4,000 per annum. According to
these figures, in the good years
there would be expended for labor
more than $5,OO0,O00 for freight
$S.O00,OOO with a profit Of from 49,
10000 up to 100000 per an