The Arizona sentinel., 1894-11-17
Resources
Of
Yuma County.
YUMA COUNTY.

YUMA COUNTY.
A white man first set foot on what "a
now Yuma County in l77I. It is ths
southwest division of the Territory, snC
one of the foar original counties of the Ter
ritory. Many great reclamation projects ar
however on foot, and in few years e.
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 tc
Arizona, the new empire of the West, upon
whose undeveloped riches the eyes of the
ountry are ut present turned, and as such,
she is bound to grow and prosper with
rapidity that at present can hardly be re-
allied. But coupled with her geographi-
cal position we find that she is the center
ola 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 o4ly 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 20 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
ichest and most prosperous counties in
Arizona.
1t lies between go 00' and 340 90 north
latitude and 1872 20 and ll40 40 west
longitude 1t contains 6.4SS, 800 acres. 1t
is about as large as the States of Rhode
Island, Connecticut and Delaware COM
biz ed, or as large as either New Hampshire,
Vermont or Massachusetts,.
The western boundary of Yuma County
is formed by the Colorado river; wh1cL
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
iinds its way to this mighty river. 1t 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 SHOWS cause 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.
1t will be seen that for the entire distance
along its western boundary, Yuma County
possesses the great advantage OF cheap
water transportation.
The ella river rises in the western part
of New Mexico and is fed by numerous
streams, among the most prominent Of
which are the San Pedro, Aqua Fria, Has
sayampa and Salt rivers. 1t 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 bonnd
aries, possesses 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's
natural channels by means of numerous
large irrigating canals. and utilized for the
purpose of retaining and irrig"ting the
immense tracts of lands which lie in this
favored country, and which are as fertile
as any in the world.
The Southern Pacific Railroad crosses the
Colorado river at the town of Yuma and
runs through the county, following the
generol course, and at an average distance
of about four miles south, of the CHA river,
rendering all the lands susceptible of irri-
gation and cultivation, can lind an easy
outlet in this way and can be trauspoi ted
to all the markets and centers of population
in the East or West.
Another competing railroad is projected
from San Diego. California. to the town
of Yuma, and thence along the north side
of the ella river. Thus Yuma County will
have exceptional railroad advantages.
THE CLIMATE OF YUMA.
The climate of Yuma for nine months of
the year has no equal, as we believe, in the
world, and during the remaining three
months of the year, comprising June, July
and August, the heat is not oppressive.
Even though the thermometer in mId-sam
mer may al times rise above 1852, and oc-
casionally even reach lI0', yet, owing to
tho .hsenee of lnoistura in tho dir ~ ie MT