The Arizona sentinel., 1897-11-13

1uuuCCHiCHUS VuC1 DJ 4 white man. first set foot on what is now Yuma County in l77l. It IS the southwest division of the Territory, and one of the four original counties of the Ter ritory. Many great reclamation projects are however on foot, and in few years ex- pect to see Yuma Courty rated as the richest in the Territory.
 The first glimpse the traveller from Cali 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 to Arizona, the new empire of the West, upon whose undeyeloped riches the eyes of the country are at present turned, and as such, is bound to grow and prosper with rapidity that at present can hardly be re- alized. But coupled with her geographi- cal position we find that she is the center of a country whose agricultural possib'li- ties are practically unlimited, being sur rounded by a soil the fertility of !" hich 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 foet to supply the ife-giving waters of the yellow Colorado to the thirsty earth.
 RIVERS OF YUMA COUNTY.
 Iu regard to climate, heslthfulness, fer f;litv 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 richest and most prosperous counties in Arizona.
 It lies between 320 O0' and 340 20' north latitude and li30 20' and ll40 4O' west longitude. r. contains s. 4SS, 320 acres. It is about as large as the States of Rhode Tslnnd. Connecticut and Delaware com- bleed. or as large as either New Hampshire Vermont or Massachusetts
 The xestern boundary Of I~.-a C1anty ss formed by the Colorado river, which separates Arizona from California. The county is bounded on the north bN Williams Fork and the santa Maria u' er, whose ~asers foe into the Colorado; on the east by the coan,ies ot Plma, Maricopa aud Yavsysi. and on the south by Sonora, Mexico. It's county seat is the town Oi Yuma.
 The Colorado river drains the entire ter ritory of Arizona, and every drop # Water which falls on its mountains ahd pialils dnds its way to this mighty rlver 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 ine snows cause a greater depth Ot water Q, +bis river m summer than III 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 alopg it's western boundary, Yuma County possesses the great advantage of cheap water transportation.
 The Gila river rises Tn the western part of New Mexico and is fed by numerous streams, among the most prominent oI which are the San Pedro, Agua Fria, das sayampa and Salt rivers. It flows west shrough 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 bonnh aries, possesses a far greater water supply thau 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 natural channels by means of numeron bafgc rrlSallnR CdhaiS' MI" " " purpose of retaining and irrig" ting tn immense tracts of lands which lie in thi favored country, and which a'e as tertll as any in the world.
 The Southern Pacific Railroad crosses tn solorado river at the town of Yuma an runs through the county, following tn Senerol course, and at an average distance ef about four miles south, of the Gila river rendering all the lands susceptible Of Irr cation and cultivation, can hnd an eas sutlet in this way and can be transpoi te g all the markets and centers Of Populatio in the East or West.
 Another competing railroad is projecte from San Diego. California, to tte tow efYuma, ard thence along the north sid ef the Gla river. Thus Yuma County wi Rave exceptional railroad advantages.
 TBECLIMATE OF YUMA.
 The climate of Yuma for nine montRs C Enc year has no equal, as we believe, in tn sorld, and during the remaining thre months of the year, comprising June, Jul and August, the heat is not oppressive Even though the thermometer in nId-sum rer may aa times rise above 1902, and oc