The Arizona sentinel., 1897-05-08

rounded by a 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. fn regard to climate, healthfulness, fer tility and productiveness of soil, facilities fer 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 32O O0> and 34' 20' north latitude and ll30 20' and ll40 4O> west longitude. It contains SASS, 320 acres. It iis about as large as the States Of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware com bised, 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 .Fsrk 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 ot Yuma.
 The Colorado river drains the entire ter ritqry 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 ID summer than Tn winter. thus furnishing the most water at the season when it ie 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 ot 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, 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, aud from it's 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 fcrnia.
 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 irrigating the immense tracts of lands which lie in this favored country, and which are as fertile as ary,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 Gila river, rendering all the lands susceptible of irri' cation and cultivation, can ind an easy outlet in this way and can be transported to all the markets and centers of population in the East CT West.
 Another competing railroad is projected from San Diego, California, to the town ofYuna, aEd thence along the north slde of the Gila river. Thus Yuma County Will have exceptional railroad advantages.
 THE CLIMATE OF YUMA.
 The climate of Yuma for nine months o sthe year has no equal, as we believe, in th' 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 md .ner may a3 times rise above l0O', and oc casionally even reach llo', yet, owing t' the absence of moisture in the air.. 1t is no oppressive. The atmosphere IS pure, hgh and, balmy. When the mercury marks vh' highest extreme of heat, person does no ,:eel that oppression or debility which | felt in the Eastern States when the mer curry is ranging from SO0 to 9O'. The air i 50 dry that perspiratlonis is absorbed as sooi .as it reaches the surface of the body, an' at no tune in the summer does the hea ,Dreduce any disceafort.