The Arizona sentinel., 1894-09-08
Resources
 of Yuma County.
YUMA COUNTY.

southwest division of the Territory, and | one of the four original counties of the Ter ritory. Many great reclamation projects are however on foot, and in a few years ex- pect to see Yuma County rated as the richest in the Territory. The first glimpse the traveller from Cali fornia catches of Arizona is that of the picturesque town of Yuma, which is snugly | situated in the embrace of gentle rolling hills, upon whose crests and sides the modern homes of our superior civilization are crowding the adobe dwellings into eternal oblivion. Yuma is the gateway to Arizona. the new empire of the West, upon whose undeveloped riches the eyes of the ountry are at present turned, and as such, she is bound to grow and prosper with d rapidity that at present can hardly be re- alized. But coupled with her geographl- cal position we find that she is the center of a country whose agricultural possibili- ties are practically unlimited, being sur rounded by soil the fertility of which exceeds that of the delta or 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 of the yellow Colorado to the thirsty earth.
 RIVERS OF YUMA COUNTY.
 in regard to climate, healthfulness, fer tility and productiveness of soil, facilities for cultivation, irrigation and abundance ot 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 ot richest and most prosperous counties ln Arizona.
 It lies between 320 OO> and 340 2O' north latitude and ll30 2O' and ll40 4O> west Longitude. It contains 6.4SS, ,32O acres. It is about as large as the States of Rhode Island. Connecticut and Delaware com bixed, 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 bv the counties of Pima, Marico7a and Yavapai. and ou the south by Sonora, Mexico. It's county seat is the town ol Yuma.
 The Colorado river drains the entira -er- ritgfv of Arizona. and every drop of water which falls on its mountains and plains ands its way -9 -li- mighty river. u -- 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 ot 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 par of New Mexico and is fed by numerous streams, among the most prominent which are the San Pedro, Agua Fria, Has
 Go1E through Yuma County and empties into tn Colorado at the town of Yuma.
 Yuma county, traversed by these grea rivers from its northern to its southern and from its eastern to its western bound aries, possesses a far greater water suppl 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 1t natural channels by means of numerou large irrigating canals, and utilized for tn purpose of retaining and irrigating tn immense tracts of lands which lie in thl 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 an runs through the county, following th generol course, and at an average distanc of about four miles south, of the Gila rive rendering all the lands susceptible of irr sation and cultivation, can find an eas
 md ha fro ff to all the markets and centers of populatiC in the East or West.
 Another competing railroad is projects from San Diego. California, to the tow of Yuma, ard thence along the north sl of the Gila river Thus Yuma County W have exceptional railroad advantages.
 THE CLIMATE OF YUMA.
 The climate of Yuma for nine months the year has no equal, as we believe, in t world, and during the remaining thr months of the year, comprising June, Ju and August, the heat is not oppressiN Even though the thermometer in mId-su ner may aa times rise above l000, and ( casionaliy even reach llo', yet, owing
 the absence of moisture in the air, it is I oppressive. The atmosphere is pure, liz
 and baimy. When the mercury marks
 highest extreme of heat, person does
 feel that oppression or debility which
 felt in the Eastern States when the m
 cury is ranging from SO0 to 9O'. The ali
 so dry that precipitation is absorbed as s
 as it reaches the surface of the body, ;