The Arizona sentinel., 1900-02-14
THE VILLAGE OF YUMA.


 Although the town of Yuma is the second oldest community in the Ter itory of Ar- zona, it is astonishing how little its re sources are known to the world at large, and how slightly developed is the natural wealth of the county. This is owing partly to Yuma's reputation for unbearable heat, and partly to the fact that, lying next to Cali fornia, is has been assumed that the county has been thoroughly l:ospected for mineral wealth, and prospectors have, in the main, kept the travelled highways in crossing its Territory. As matter of fact one suffers less from the heat here than in almost all of the settled communities of the east, owing to the dryness of the atmosphere, and there Is no healthier climate on Gcl's footstool.
 People labor cut of door from the rising to the setting of the suu, and suffer no in convenience. There has never been known, in this section of country, an authentic case of sunstrolle Our climate, taken in time, never fails to cure pulmonary complais- ; of any description. Disease such as smallpox, cholera, etc, rarely visit Us, ana then oJ-ly in a very mild form, and are never fatGr ex- cept through the per7ersity of patients. Contrary to the belief of the uninformel, the dry heat of the summer months i~ os- pecially conducive to good health and ex- oeptional vigor, acting naturally upon ti!;;o human system with the same effect as the artificial result of Turkish bath-parefy- ing and renovating it. As a further matter of fact, this county has never been even superfcialIy suspected, and it is only now that people are beginning to search it's hills with any degree of systematic enthusiasm for the mineral wealth hidden there Ow- ing to the falling off in the price of silver, i deposits of gold only are being sought for; and the present result is little short of mar vclous In all sections of the county from 1 the Sonora liRe to Williams Fork discoveries are daily being made, and the greater the 1 development the greater the wealth dis l 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 devel- oping into rich storehouses of golden wealth. New and rich placers are constantly being discovered, and shipments of placer gold from this point through Wells Fargo $ Co., s Express, are steadily increasing in valua. From mining standpoint Yuma County is rapidly leading the Territory, and yet as far os that industry is concerned, this section has received kut little recoe- nltion.
 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 consequent learth of money for investment purposes, are uoking up to new life and vigor. Money is being attracted in this direction, and oD ali sides can be distinguished that indeGn- abe stir which is the precursor of an indus trial awakening Even within these last two years of financial strincency and de- pression there has been a steady if slow iu- crease in agricultural development and wealth. A greater area of old farms has Teen put under cultivation, and new lands nave been inclosed and new fields started. 4 large section of Blaisdell Heights has been planted to fruit trees; field of cereals and alfalfa have been added the cultivated area on the Colorado river below town; the lands lying under the Mohawk and Farmers canals have been made to yield heavy crops of every variety of agricultural products, as in other sections of the Gila valley, and the gardens of Yuma have been added to and beautifed in fruits, flowers and shujborv to more than appreciable extent. Altogether we may feel proud ot our progress during these fast months of business depression and discouraq cement. IL speaks well fol the in dustry and pluck O! our people, and the showing made constitates the best evidence of the merits of our soil and climate and the richness of our mineral resources. Nature has done everything for orr county, and all that is needed is touch of the wand of cap ital to have our hills and valleys spring into an active life of remunerative industry that will last and endure forever
 Some three years ago, through the energy cf H. ". nlaisde.l, the Yuma Water and Liaht Company wss incorporated, and by means nj is large Iumpirg plant, at the foot of | n street, the town is abundantly surplied w-.b water at reasonable r ites, anG there have grown into existence new and large gardens and orchards.