The Arizona sentinel., 1894-07-14
Resources
 of Yuma County.
YUMA COUNTY.

now Yuma County in l77I. It is the 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 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 undeyeloped riches the eyes of the country are at present turned, and as such, 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 soil the fertility of which exceeds that of the delta of the Nile, and wanting only 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 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 320 OO' and 340 20> north latitude and ll30 2O' and ll40 40> west longitude. It contains 6,4SS, ,320 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 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 ot 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 purpose: of irrigation and agriculture.
 It will be seen that for the entire distance along its western boundary, Yuma County possesses the great advantage of cheaE water transportation.
 The Gila river rises in the western part of New Mexico and is fed by numerous 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 the purpose of retaining and irrigating th'
  favored country, and which are as fertile as any in the world.
 The Southern Pacific Railroad crosses tht Colorado river at the town of Yuma anC runs through the county, following tht generol course, and at an average distance of about four miles south, of the Gila river rendering all the lands susceptible of irri gation and cultivation, can find an eas, outlet in this way and can be transpol tet 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 vii have exceptional railroad advantages.
 THE CLIMATE OF YUMA.
 The climate of Yuma for nine months 0 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 mid-sum mer may aa times rise above lOO0, and oc casionally even reach lI00, yet, owing t the absence of moisture in the air, it is no oppressive. The atmosphere is pure, Igh 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 SO0 to sO'. The air