The Arizona sentinel., 1897-01-09


 rounded by soil the fertility of which exceeds that of the delta of the Nile, and wanting o1ly water to become paradise oi 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 arc on foot to supply the life-giving waters oi the yellow Colorado to the thirsty earth.
 RIVERS OF YUMA COUNTY.
 In regard to climate, healthfulness, fer eility and productiveness of soil, facilities for cultivation, irrigation and abundance oi water supply, variety of resources and cheap transportation by rail and by water, ho part of Arizona can surpass Yuma county, which is destined to become one oi richest and most prosperous counties ID Arizona.
 It lies between 32' Oo' and 34' 20' north latitude and lI30 2O' and ll4' 40> west longitude. It contains 6. ASS, ,32O acres. Il is 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 Ferk and the Santa Maria river, whose waters flow into the Colorado; on the east bv 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 ritcry of Arizona, and every drop ot water which falls on its mountains and plains i ids its way to this mighty river. It IS ormed 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 Tn summer than in 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 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 it's southern, md 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 fernia.
 This water is now being diverted from its natural channels by means ot 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 any in the world.
 The Southern Pacific Railroad crosses the Colorado river at tho town of Yuma and runs through the county, following the renerol course, and at an average distance of about four miles south, of the Gila river, rendering all the lands susceptible of lrri- pation and cultivation, can find an easy outlet in this way and can be transpol ted to ali the markets and centers of population fp the East or West.
 Another competing railroad is projected from San Diego, California, to tho town Inf Yuma. aEd thence along the north side Inf 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 tho remaining three months of the year, comprising June, July and August, the heat Is not oppressive. Even though the thermometer in mld-sum' mer may a3 times rise above lOO', and oc- casionally even reach ll00, yet, owing to the absence of moisture in the air, 1t IS not oppressive. The atmosphere is pure' light and balmy. When the mercury marks the highest extreme of heat, person does not feel that oppression or debility which IS felt in the Eastern States when the mer- cury is ranging from sO' to 9O'. The air is 80 dry that precipitation is absorbed as soon as it reaches the surface of the body' ana at no time in the summer does the neat produce any discomfort.