Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-10-31
LAND BOOM AT YUMA,
Homesteaders Taking the Algadones
Land Grant by Storm.

Unless present prospects are woetuliy
deceptive Yuma will not long have 70
depend upon the outside world for frults
and vegetables. The farming popula-
ton is on lively increase. A number
of our towns-people have caught the
land mania and have located homesteads
recently, while several have come in from
California. They are as a rule making
their locations on the AlgodoDes land
grant. which is believed to be fraudu-
lent Many more locations will be made
within O short time, as all that Is neces-
sary to have settler upon every quarter
section of said grant is to let it be known
abroad what a fine body Of land it en-
braces, and the favorable prospects that
exists for securing a United States title
at no distant day.
Those who have thus far filed on the
grant lands as homesteads, having had
their applications rejected, (Which by
the way was antIcipateD will appeal to
the general land Office, and in the mean
time, as far as practicable, commence
improving their claims. Already the
primitive habitations, usual in such
cases, may be seen gradually peering
above the rank weeds everywhere cover
ing the surface of the valley. A few
have lived upon the grant for several
years in fond anticipation Of the day
when they might be able to own home
they could call their own. AS rule
such have been possessed OF small
means and the results they have accom-
plished are accordingly limited, but, at
the same time, quite sufficient to prove
the value of the soil and climate for the
production of large variety OF pro-
ducts.
This grant covers nearly the entire
townsite of Yuma and extends more
than twelve miles in a southerly
direction taking larger share OF
the valley of the Colorado between
Yuma and the Sonora line, ap-
proximating $1,000 acres of arabic land.
Between the grant and the Sonora line,
twenty three miles south OF town, there
are however, many acres of just as fine
land yet open for entry. A large pro-
portion of this government land was
entered under the desert land act ov-
er three years ago by San Francisco
SPECTATORS, most of which relapsed to
the government this year by reason Of a
failure to comply with the law. Since
then a portion of the land has been re-
entered but still larger part Rename
open to entry. 1t has been demonstrate
ed that water Cd these valley lands is
met with usually at from ten to fifteen
feet. By sinking few feet deeper as
fine water as can be desired is obtained.
Nearly all who have recently located
either on the grant or off it, have filed
homesteads, which proves two impor-
tant facts; First, it may be accepted as
guarantee of good faith IL the applicant
TO become a permanent settler; and
second, it leaves an opportunity open
for others to secure ZONES instead OF
driving them out of the country; as is
often the case resulting from the land
grabber's policy.
A public meeting was held here last
Thursday evening at which about fifty
peorle assembled. The object ct the
meeting was to effect an organization of
settlers, and those DESTROYS of settling
upon the Algodones land grant.
DIR. p. @. Cotton was chosen chair
man, and Edwin Mayes, secretary.
Among other steps taken; was the ap-
pointment of I'D Mayes, r. S, Hatch,
and F. b. Wightman as working com.
mittee," having in charge the interest OF
the settlers.
Township plsts, corrected weekly, will
be kept on hand to aid settlers, or
rather those intending to become such,
for which service simply enough will be
charged to defray the expense incurred.
F. B. L.
YUMA, Oct &c, 1891.