The Arizona sentinel., 1898-05-21
THE VILLAGE OF YUMA.


 Although the town of Yuma is the secOn
 oldest community in the Territory of Ar
 zona, it is astonishing how little its re sources are known to the world at large, an how slightly developed is the natural weaIt
 of the county. This is owing partly t
 Yuma's reputation for unbearable heat, an,
 partly to the fact that, lying next to Cali fornia, is has been assumed that the count,
 has been thoroughly prospected for minera
 wealth, and prospectors have, in the main
 kept the travelled highways in crossing it
 Territory. As matter of fact one suffer
 less from the heat here than in almost all o
 the settled communities of the east. owin.
 to the dryness of the atmosphere, and there
 IS no healthier climate on Gods footstool.
 People labor out of doors from the risinc
 to the setting of the sun, and suffer no in-
 convenience. There has never been known
 in this section of country, an authentic case of sunstroke. Our climate, taken in time. never fails to cure pulmonary complaints of any description. Disease such as smallpox, cholera, etc, rarely visit US, and then only in a very mild form, and are never fatal ex- cept through the perversity of patients. Contrary to the belief of the uninformed, the dry heat of the summer months is es- pecially conducive to good health and ex- ceptional vigor, acting naturally upon the human system with the same effect as the artificial result of Turkish bath-purefv- ing and renovating it. As further matter Of fact, this county has never been even superfeally suspected, and it is only now that people are beginning to search its hills with any degree of systematic enthusiasm for the mineral wealth hidden there, Ow ing to the falling off in the price of silver.
 deposits of gold only are being sought for; and the present result is little short of mar
 vicious. In all sections of the county from
 the Sonora line to Williams Fork discoveries are daily being made, and the greater the development the greater the wealth dis played. Wherever the prospector plants his foot, lodges of gold confront him or are brought to light by the Investigating strokes of his pick.
 Portions of the country traversed for years by commonly travelled trails are dcver- oping into rich storehouses of golden wealth. New and rich placers are constantly beino discovered, and shipments of placer gold from this point through Wells Fargo & | Co. s Express, are steadily increasing in value. From mining standpoint Yuma l County is rapidly leading the Territory, and yet as far as that industry is concerned | this section has received but little recor- | milton.
 Agriculturally the country is vastly i'm proving. Enterprises that have lain dor mant the last two years, owing to the gen eral financial depression and conseouent dearth of money for investment purposes. are waking ID to new life and vicor. Money is being attracted ill this direction, and on al sides can be distinguished that indefn- able stir which is the precursor of an indus- trial awakening. Even within these last two years of financial stringency and de- presSlon there has been a steady if slow i'm crease in agricultural development and wealth. A greater area of old farms Ina. }een put under cultivation, and new lands nave been inclosed and new fields star+ed large section of BIaisdell Heights has been planted to fruit trees; fields of cereals and lhalfa have been added to the cultivated -rea on the Colorado river below town. tbn ands lying under the Mohawk and Farmers 'anaL5 have been made to yield heavy crons , 'f every variety Of agricultural products, as | other sections of the Gila valley, and the ! ardens of Yuma have been added to and . in fruits, flowers and shubberv to more than appreciable extent Altogether 'e may feel proud Of our progress durino |, hese last months of business depression and | Encouragement. It speaks well for the in ustfy &nd pluck of our people, and the V loWlng made constitutes the best evidence |, the merits of our soil and climate and the f chness Of our mineral resources. Nature as done everything for our county, and all lat Is needed is touch of the wand of cap s al to have our hills and valleys spring into O active life of remunerative industry that Ill last and endure forever. o Some three years ago, through the energy d
 Il. ". Blaisdell, the Yuma Water and d ight Company was incorporated, and by & cans of its large pumping plant, at the " ct of Main street, the town is abmdantly H pplled with water at reasonable rates, and il ere have grown into existence new and h rge gardens and orchards, i,