The Arizona sentinel., 1898-08-06

white nan first set foot on what il
 sow Yuma County in lf7l. It IS tn,
 Southwest division of the Territory, anC
 oHe of the four original counties of the Ter
 fitory. Many great reclamation projects art
 however on foot, and in few years ex-
 pect to see Yuma County rated as tho
 richest in the Territory.
 The first glimpse the traveller from Cali
 fornia catches of Arizona is that of the
 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 eternal oblivion. Yuma is the gateway to Arizona, the new empire of the West, upon whose undeveloped riches the eyes of the country are at present turned, and as such,
 is bound to grow and prosper with a rspidity that at present can hardly be re- alized. But coupled with her geographi- cal position we find that she is the center of country whose agricultural possibili- ties are practically unlimited, being sur rounded by soil the fertility of which exceeds that of the delta of the Nile, and wanting oaly water to become a paradise of bloom. Billions of gallons of that precious auid have annually gone to waste at Yuma's very doors, but already reaction Is taking place aud many enterprises are on foot to supply the life-giving waters of the yellow Colorado to the thirsty earth.
 RIVERS OF YUMA COUNTY.
 Tn regard to climate, healthiulness, fer sility 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 OO' and 340 2O' north latitude and llSo 2O' and ll40 40' west longitude. It contains 6. ASS, 320 acres. It is about as large as the States of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware com biyed, 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 favapai, and on the south by Sonora, Mexico. Its county seat is the town of Yuma.
 The Colorado river drains the entire ter .itory of Arizona, and every drop ot water which falls on its mountains and plains 6nds its way to this mighty river. It is formed by the union of the Green and l 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 firrigation and agriculture.
 1t will be seen that for the entire distance Long its western boundary, Yuma County boss, ses 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, 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, and from its eastern to its western bound. aries, possesses far greater water supply than any other county in the Territory, fernia.
 This water is now being diverted from it's natural channels by means of numerous large irrigating canals, and utilized for 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 the town of Yuma and funs 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- sation and cultivation, can 6nd an easy outlet in this way and can be transpol ted |; o all the markets and centers of population sn the East or West.
 Another competing railroad is projected ( from San Diego. California, to tie town of Yuma, ard thence along the north side I of the Gila river. Thus Yuma County will i fave exceptional railroad advantages. (
 THE CLIMATE OF YUMA. The climate of Yuma for nine months q, the year has no equal, as we believe. in the ~orId, and during the remaining three months of the year, comprising June, July q and August, the heat is not oppressive, e q if Al