The Arizona sentinel., 1897-06-19


 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 fe-giving waters Of the yellow Colorado to the thirsty earth.
 RIVERS OF YUMA COUNTY. lM 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 ot richest and most prosperous counties in Arizona.
 1t lies between S20 O0' and 340 20' north latitude and ll30 20' and ll40 40 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 by the counties of Pima, Maricopa and Yavapai, and on the south by Sonora, Mexico. Its county seat is the town oi Yuma.
 The Colorado river drains the entire ter rit:ry of Arizona, and every drop ot water which falls on its mountains and plains inds 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 ot water in this river m 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 cheaI water transportation.
 The Gila river rises in the western par 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 wes through Yuma County and empties into th' 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 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 ROW being diverted from 1t natural channels by means ot numerous large irriHting canals, and utilized for th' purpose of retaining and irrigating thu immense tracts of lands which lie in thi favored country, and which arc as fertil as any in the world.
 The Southern Pacific Railroad crosses tn Colorado river at the town of Yuma ant runs through the county, following tn cenerol course, and at an average distance of about four miles south, of the Gila river rendering all the lands susceptible of irri cation and cultivation, can find an eas! outlet in this way and can be transpol teC O all:the markets and centers of population in the East or West.
 Another competing railroad is projecte' from San Diego. California, to the towl of Yuma. and thence along the north sid of the Gila river Thus Yuma County vii have exceptional railroad advantages.
 THECLIMATE OF YUMA.
 The climate ot Yuma for nine montns the year has no equal, as we believe, in tin world, and during the remaining thre months of the year, comprising June, Jul and August, the heat is not oppressive Eyen though the thermometer in mid-sum saler may al times rise above l00o, and ot .casionally even reach ll00, yet, owing t sshe absence of moisture in the air, it is nc oppressive. The atmosphere is pure, ligh and balmy. When the mercury marks tn highest cxtre"Ie of heat, person does nc feel that oppression or debility which gelt in the Eastern States when the mel cury is ranging from S00 to, 900. The air go dry that perspiIationis absorbed as 500 as it reaches the surface of the body, an at no tune in the summer does the hea yoredace any discomfort.