The Arizona sentinel., 1892-09-03
A Grand Project

ative of several heavy California
 capitalists, who was here @ few
 weeks ago and spent some time in
 6 most careful examination of the
 lands on both sides of the Colorado
 river between here and the gulf,
 and who has returned to Yuma in
 the promotion of bis plans to open up for settlement a large tract of land on the west side of the river twenty miles or more below here. The tract in question contains 420,OOO acres of the richest valley lands on the Pacific Coast. It lies
 below and west of the Algodones, and along the Colorado down to its junction with the Hardie river. A large portion of it is covered with a heavy growth of cottonwood and willow timber of good size. On more oft the growth is smaller but very thick and standing from 10 to 40 feet high. Other portions are covered with a heavy growth of very large mesquite trees, and that which was low but dry mesa lands, is now covered with mesquite brush, and in places with wild hemp. Nearly every square mile of the whole tract is crossed and re-crossed by the ancient canal system of New river. These old canals are filled at the present time with running water, the over flow of the Colorado that runs the crevasse, eight miles below Fl Rio caused by the flood of last year.
 MT. Sears plan is, to lay out an avenue l2 miles or more in length from the Colorado river to the west ward, and to cut up the land on each side of the avenue into 5, 10 and 20 acre lots, every second one of which he will clear off, fence, blow, and set out to such fruit trees and vines as he may think best adapted to the soil and climate. Upon portion of these cultivated lots he will put up small but com 'ortable cottages, which he will sell with the lots to actual settlers, who have families, on the installment plan, giving time for the payments to be made and at low rate of in- terest. This will enable those seek ing homes, to secure one already for occupancy and the ground al- ready under a state of cultivation, pr they can purchase lands upon which no improvements have been made, and improve them as they wish. Upon those portions of the avenue where there are no canals ne will have them dug in which the water from the old canals will be to the points where it nay be wanted. MT. Sears will lear of, as his first work and put
 n an experimental farm, which will cover 5000 acres, on which he will test the different varieties of grain, grass, vegetables, vines and iruit trees, as to soil, climate, irri- ,ation and cultivation. He will provide & school house, church, ,aH and any other necessaries, as
 oon as the settlement demands
 hem. A ferry will be put on the
 iver for the accommodation of all vho may wish such accommo- lations.
 MT. Sears Is widely known as 7ery successful farmer, fruit ard ,raps grower and wine manufact- lrer. At one time he had 150 acres # grape vines in production. His in these lines has been ong one, as he says "some' what ,aried." He left for Phoenix and Central Arizona Sunday evening where he will spend two or three weeks in rigid examination of the liferent vineyards, fruit orchards, orange and lemons groves, soils, water methods of irrigation and cultivation, and every point con- lectcd with them before he begins york on his great project on the Colorado below Yuma.
 He calculates that it will take 100000 in cash and three years in
 ime before his company will begin o realize any returns from their investment.