The Arizona sentinel., 1896-04-18
RIVERS OF YUMA COUNTY,

In regard to climate, healthfulness, fer tility and productiveness of soil, facilities Tor 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 00' and 34o 20' north latitude and ll3o 20' and ll40 40> west longitude. It contains 6, ,48S, ,320 acres. It is about as large as the States of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware com bi.ed, 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 ill the Rocky Mountains, and the melt ing snows cause a greater depth ot water in this river Tn summer than Tn 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 it's western boundary, Yuma County possesses the great advantage of cheap water transportation.
 The Gila 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, Agua Fria, Has slyampa and Salt rivers. It flows west through Yuma County and empties into the Colorado at the town of Yuma.
 Yuma county, traverscd by these great rivers from its northern to its southern. md 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 its 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 m 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 rms through the county, following the qenerol course, and at an average dIstanc, of ab0ut fonr miles south, of the Gila river rendering all the lands susceptible ot lrri gation and culti ,ation, can find an eas outlet in this way and can be transpoite' Tn 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, ard thence along the north side of the Gila 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 Ill nld-snm' mer may al times rise above lOO', and O. oosionallv even reach ll00, yet, owing t. the absence of moisture in the air, tls not oppressive. The atmosphere IS pure, hgh and balmv. When the mercury marks ih bichest extreme of heat, person does n" feel that oppression or debility which felt in the Eastern States when the mer' cury is ranging from SO' to 9O'. The ar Is so dry that precipitation is absorbed as soon as it reaches tke surface of the body, anu at no tune in the summer does the heat produce any discomfort.
 LANDS AND SOILS.
 The lands of Yuma County comprise the rlvel bottoms and valleys and the uplands or mesaS 1h' bottom ands are moister and slightly mere fertile if, indeed. it is possible to n ke comparisons bere all are so wonderfully productive and prolific N, ,,rlsnds or rresss are warmer and, perhaps,