The Arizona sentinel., 1894-08-11
YUMA COUNTY.

ounUry are aC present. GuIheu, anu as suOh, she is bound to grow and prosper with a rapidity that at present can hardly be re- alized But coupled with her geographi- cal position we find that she is the center of a country whose agricultural possibili- ties are practically unlimited, being sur rounded by a soil the fertility of which exceeds that of the delta of the Nile, and wanting oaly water to become paradise Of bloom. Billions of gallons of that precious fluid have annually gone to waste at Yuma's very doors, but already reaction is taking place and many enterprises are on foot to supply the life-giving waters ot the yellow Colorado to the thirsty earth.
 RIVERS OF YUMA COUNTY.
 In regard to climate, healthiulness, fer tility and productiveness of soil, facilities for cultivation, irrigation and abundance of water supply, variety of resources and cheap transportation by rail and by water, no part of Arizona can surpass Yuma county, which is destined to become one of richest and most prosperous counties in Arizona.
 It lies between 32o O0' and 34o 20 north latitude and ll3o 2O' and ll4' 4O' west longitude. It contains 6,4SS, 32O acres. It is about as large as the States of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware com bined, or as large as either New Hampshire, Vermont or Massachusetts.
 The western boundary of Yuma County is formed by the Colorado river, which separates Arizona from California. The county is bounded on the north by Williams Fork and the Santa Maria river, whose waters flow into the Colorado; on the east by the counties of Pima, Maricopa and Yavapai, and on the south by Sonora, Mexico. Its county seat is the town of Yuma.
 The Colorado river drains the entire ter ritory of Arizona, and every drop ct water which falls on its mountains and plains finds its way to this mighty river. It is formed by the union of the Green and Grand rivers, fed by the streams which rise in the Rocky Mountains, and the melt ing snows cause a greater depth of water in this river in summer than in winter. thus furnishing the most water at the season when it is most required for the purposes of irrigation and agriculture.
 It will be seen that for the entire distance along its western boundary, Yuma County possesses the great advantage of cheaI water transportation.
 The Gila river rises in the western part of New Mexico and is fed by numerou; streams, among the most prominent o which are the San Pedro, Agua Fria, Has sayampa and Salt rivers. It flows west through Yuma County and empties into the Colorado at the town of Yuma.
 Yuma county, traversed by these great rivers from its northern to its southern and from its eastern to its western bound aries, possesses a far greater water supply than any other county in the Territory and far more than can be found in all Cali fernia.
 This water is now being diverted from it natural channels by means of numerous large irrigating canals, and utilized for tht purpose of retaining and irrigating tn, immense tracts of lands which lie in thi favored country, and which are as fertil as any in the world.
 The Southern Pacific Railroad crosses tn, Colorado river at the town of Yuma anC runs through the county, following tn genercl course, and at an average distance of about four miles south, of the Gila river rendering all the lands susceptible of irri outlet in this way and can be transpol te' to all the markets and centers of population in the East or West
 Another competing railroad is projecte from San Diego. California, to the tow of Yuma, and thence along the north sid of the Gila river. Thus Yuma County wi have exceptional railroad advantages.
 THE CLIMATE OF YUMA.
 The climate of Yuma for nine months ( the year has no equal, as we believe, in tn world, and during the remaining thre months of the year, comprising June, Jul and August, the heat is not oppressive Even though the thermometer in nIid-sum mer may aa times rise above 1902, and oC casionally even reach ll00, yet, owing the absence of moisture in the air, it is nc oppressive. The atmosphere is pure, ligE and balmy. When the mercury marks Jh highest extreme of heat, a person does nc feel that oppression or debility which felt in the Eastern States when the me cury is ranging from SO' to 9O'. The air so dry that precipitation is absorbed as SOC as it reaches the surface of the body, ar at no time ill the summer does the hei produce any discomfort.
 LANDS AND SOILS.
 The lands of Yuma County comprise the rlv bottoms and valleys and the uplands or mesas. T bottom lands moister and slightly more ferti if, indeed, it is possible to make compariso where all arc so wonderfully productive and prolif The uplands or mesas are warmer and, perhaI slightly better for the cultivation of the citrus fru zuma contains variety of soil The valley Ian