The Arizona sentinel., 1892-03-12
THE FERTILE COLORADO VALLEY.
Lands of Richness. Homes
fer Thousands.
Homes
nome Facts Concerning a
Country Of BOundLess Nee
sources.

For years that portion of the
great Colorado valley lying below
Yuma has been looked upon with
much favor by judges of good
lands. But, one thing seemed to
to keep away intending settlers,
and that was a Mexican grant COW
cred the best part of that region.
Now, new company has purchas-
ed all the rights Of the former
holders Of the grant and offer
most attractive and business like
proposition to intending purchas-
ers, which will be presented to our
readers in full, after the writer has
been permitted to give short de-
scription of the lands and improve
ments to be seen on the lands.
A few days ago a representative
of the SENTINEL, in company with
E. F. Wetmore, NJ. E., who is in
charge of the engineering depart
ment of the company went down
to the Sanford ranch. Mr.. Wet
more drives a good horse and we
spun across the mesa in fine style,
the BRIGHT sunshine and cool, eX-
hilerating air adding much to the
pleasure of the drive. About three
miles from town turn of the road
is made and the mesa is left-what
a view of enchantment is presented.
Just below, close to the sloping
mesa, a panorama of unusual at
tractiveness appears. Waving
fields of emerald green wheat and
alfalfa: squares, diamonds and
triangles of verdure of every con-
ceivable shade, with background
of the dark mountain peaks of ages
to the westward add much to the
brightness of the fields. AS the
cultivated lands are approached
looking backward at the glistening,
annarn.,4l, 81 he, -.osiora .i.ct tro=
versed, one receives the best OBJ
ject lesson possible as to the benefits
of irrigation. The main building
is reached and after dismounting
find that the headquarters is a
substantial structure Of 30x50 feet,
well equipped in every respect
Opposite to this are the blacksmith
and carpenter shops. In front of
these buildings runs the main
lateral ditch on the southern bank
of which a thrifty line of date
palms is growing for the distance
of one-quarter of a mile. This
lateral receives its supply from the
main ditch little to the east, the
latter now carrying about 5000
gallons a minute, more than is
needed at present. Your scribe
concluded it was time to personally
investigate what appeared near by,
GOODIES" OF VEGETABLES,
and he found them in plenty. Mag
nifcent green peas, only - acres
of them, and in pod, ready for
shipment next week. The largest
caulifowers on earth are growing
and will be in condition for market
soon; Of this splendid table fav-
orite and the more common, but
commercially higher in favor were
to be seen cabbage, in lots of 5 acres
each. Fields Of onions, potatoes,
beans, sugar beets and other vege-
tables were duly inspected and ap.
peared to be growing very vigor-
ously. Of vegetables the total
number of acres now under cult
walton is fifty-six. But for wheat
and alfalfa the Sanford farm surely
presents a marvel. The growth is
very rank and has reached upward
in great haste and shows the re-
markable fertility of the soil. An
experimental patch Of tobacco has
been planted and is thriving nicely
The camphor tree, japanese tea
and other foreign varieties of the
vegetable kingdom have been sci
out to see how Yuma county's fer
tile soil agrees with their well.
being, Our attention is now di.
rected to the
ORANGES, LINES AND LEMONS,
which seem to be prospecting nicely
under our perfect climatic condi
lions. The lemons lines and or
anees are The finest that could be
bought. Most of the lemons are
of the Villa Franco variety. Of tht
oranges Washington navels anc