Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-05
YUMA IS FULL OF ENTERPRISE.
The Town Showing Remarka-
BILE Signs of Progress.
Many Irrigation and Fruit Raising
Undertakings.
Water and Soil to Be Brought To-
gether The Features of
the Town Briefly
Outlined, Etc.

Correspondence of the HERALD
YUMA, Jan. Yuma is just now the
scene of unwopted activity, and the
people are congratulating themselves
that they are on the eve of boom-not
a real estate or mining boom, but one
which has agriculture and horticulture
for it's basis. Indeed, such seems to be
the condition of things nearly every
where on the line OF the Southern Pacific
in Arizona, and is caused by the build
ing of canals, fumes and zanias which
will conduct water hitherto allowed to
run to waste, on many hundreds OF
thousands of valuable acres of land,
which have until now remained arid
for the want of the precious fluid.
At Yuma there is considerable fine
land on a mesa west of the city which
can be made available for citrus and de-
ciduous fruit trees. The temperature
on this mesa, winter and sum mer, is six
degrees higher than it is in the town,
and will insure very early crops--a con-
dition which is of value in the raising
and sale Of fruit.
Mr.. Blaisdell is the man who has
undertaken to draw Yuma out of her
long sleep by building an irrigation sys-
tenn from the river to the mesa. Just
behind the railroad hotel we'll 40 feet
deep has been dug, which connects with
the river. The water will be pumped
into wooden main two feet in diameter
which passes through the entire length
of the town and has its terminus on the
mesa. Another pump in this well will
throw back into the river the sand which
may accumulate at the bottom. The
Colorado water has in solution some
very rich alluvial matter. which, it is
calculated, will act as fertilizer and
increase the value of the land nearly
81 50 year per acre.
In connection with this reclamation
scheme, Mr.. Blaisdell has built large,
well-graded avenue that leads from the
city to the mesa.
These mild attempts at a boom have
fired the hearts of the Yumaites with
enthusiasm. Outside of this the grad
ing camps of the Grant brothers, which
are located on the California side at the
foot OF the old fort, have thrown into
Yuma quite floating population,
which has left some money in the town.
The Southern Pacific has had the entire
track from the Colorado to Ell Rio placed
upon higher ground, to prevent that
part of the road from becoming again
flooded. The grading is finished and the
track-layers have arrived and are now at
work placing the ties and rails. The
fra olr Wi la Ivy fnr tvoA A,< -. nh
month.
There has been decided attempt to
close all stores on Sunday, under the
territorial law, but it is not quite sue
cessful. owiag to the opposition of one
firm that objects to the measure as long
as the saloons are allowed to remain
open ON that day. The latter institu-
tions do brisk business, which is prob
ably the result of the boom, and in or
der to attract custom they employ fe-
male piano -thumpers who likewise sing
and dance. That ls metropolitan enough
and has nearly paralyzed the paisanos
who form the major part of Yuma's pop
ulation, and the old pioneer prospectois
who are go familiar eight at the depot
at train time to those who do travelling
over that part of the Southern Pacific
IUdus LII IcIuIuQb Lileb0 mSu vi UlhDy
mines and no money of the palmy days
on the Comstock and at Tombstone, aud
they are ready to swear by Yuma when
somebody calls them to the bar.
Rev. Father Geldhof, the Catholic
priest, is an enthusiastic worker and
seems to be doing much good among
his flock. He has. established a paro-
chial school conducted by Sisters of
Mercy and devotes all his time to- the
welfare of his people. A. public school
is in the course of erection too, on the
main street, and this time it is not going
to be an adobe building, but real
American frame building on a brick
foundation.
Rev. Father Allen of Los Angeles is
spending some time at the old fort on
the California aide for the benefit of his
health, as the guest of the Sisters who
conduct the Indian school there. He Is
located in a very roomy pavilion which
overlooks the entire valley and is recu-
perating very fast. The Indian school
ia worthy of visit and would we'll re-
pay the visitor.