davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Arizona sentinel., 1900-01-24
LANDS AND SOILS.

| The lands of Yuma County comprise the river
 bottoms and valleys and the uplands or mesas The
 bottom ands mOister and slightly mere fertile
 if, indeed, it is possible to make comparisons
 where all are so wonderfully productive and prolific | The uplands mesas warmer and, perhaps,
 lightly for betterthe cultivation fthe citrus fruits Yuma contains variety of soil The valley land
 of thel Gila and Colorado rivers have for the most part deep sedmentary soil of brownish, gray
 sandy loam, resting in most places, upon a gray
 clay subseil at depth of from ten to twenty feet
 below the surface. The clay subsoil forms hard
 pan which is impervious to water These soils have
 been slowly formed by the decomposition of shales
 sandstones, marls. limestones etc., mixed with or
 ganic and vegetable matter, washed down by the
 mighty rivers and have been gradually deposited
 turing the course of centuries. Tho fertilizins
 brownish mud held in the wat tIof the Colorado
 and Gila rivers resembles that from the Nile, and
 it's quantity varies from o.1 to O.5 per cent, though the water hen even considerably discolor- ed by mud is good drink, resembling in this res pect the Missouri river water. chemical analysis of the sediments of the Colorado and of the Nile exhibits wonderful similarity in the constituent parts of each. That of the Colorado exhibiting a trife less potassa most phosphOric acid and car bonade of limestone beds through which the Colo rado pass-s In other respects the sediment of the Colorado is almost identical with that of the Nile It will be noticed, therefore, that when this water is used for irrigation it is superior to artesian waters since it is constantly supplying the land with the fertilizing elements. The soil of the valley is extremely rich in dsdomposed vegetable matter and uncembined carbon, readily absorbing the aerial gases such especially, oxygen, which en- sering the soil, decomposes the organic matters so hat they can be taken up and nourish the plants which may he considered leading featur. in it ertty It also readily takes up and retains noisture while tho 6rmness of it's particles affords very facility for percolation and the activity of apillary action In It's mechanical composition It's particle arc in state of very fine division which enders it moro productive than coarser soils I cqurios heat readily in she daytime, and the loss the heat at night Is very gradual, that 1t re- ,ains always warm and Is not subject to sudden of heat and cold. Besides its essential con- tituents of water, organic vegetable matter, and and clay, chemical anal ysis shows that lime, ,da, magnesia, iron, ammoE4s and available forms nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash enter into ,mposition in the proportions best adapted to c i'd to its fertility though, of course, is always
 e oass In soil analysis it's composition varies h fe.entl calitiss and Is not always constant Is
The Arizona sentinel., 1900-01-24
WHY IMMIGRANTS SHOULD COME TO YUMA
 COUNTY.

COUNTY. Because the climate is perfect.
 Because the soil is fertile and prolific.
 Because land is abundant and cheap.
 Because home can be made with littl, labor.
 Because so great variety of product. can be grown.
 Because the yield is large and the prices always remunerative.
 Because life is a luxury in land where the sun shines every day.
 Because th,re are chances for a poor man which he can never hope to find in older countries.
 Because the country is advancing and property values are increasing.
 Because, unlike Southern California it does not require small fortune to secure a piece of land.
 Because capital dees not block all the av- enues to wealth, nor crowd the poor man to the wall.
 Because Uncle Sam has yet many farms in Yuma county waiting for occupants.
 Because churches, schools, newspapers and railroads are fast developing the moral and material elements of the Territory.
 Because good land is becoming scarce. and if you don't catch on now, your last chance will soon be gone.
 Because the country is one of the few regions of the United States that yields the products of the temperate and semi-tropie zones.
 Because the worker receives Q fair com. pensation for his labor, And the 'rustler' has field for the display of his energy and en- terprise.
 Because there ara neither blizzards or tornadoes, earthquakes nor inundations. snow-sto: ms nor cyclones. Becauso the vast and varied resources of the country are yet to be developed. Because the wealth of it's mines, it's farm ing valleys, and grazing lands, will yet bull up great and prosperous county.
 Because man can make a livelihood ter with less labor than in any other part of the United States.
 Because there is health in every breeze, and strength and vigor under it's cloudle.s skies.
 Because the settler need not spend a life time in felling trees and grubbirg cut Itumpc.
 Because vegetation is 50 rapid that in two Iears the home is surrounded by growth # trees and shrubs which would require i've years te develop in colder cline. Because fortunes here await the venture. ome. and health welcomes the afflicted. s Because the country has brilliant future 5 nd you want to be in the ''swim." Because in it's pure. dry invigorating air. pidemic diseases cannot live CT germinate. Beeause its people are generous. liberal, tl equitable and progressive.
The Arizona sentinel., 1900-01-24
THE ECLIMATE OF YUMA.

The climate of Yuma tor nine months oi the year has no equal, as we believe, in the world, and during th remaining three eaenths of the year, comprising June, July. and August, the heat is not oppressive Even though the thermometer in mid-sun- nler may sa times rise above lO0', and oc- casionally even reach ll0', yet, owing to the absence of moisture in the air, it is not oppressive. The atmosphere is pure, light and balmy. When the mercury marks the highest eztre-1e of heat, person does not feel that oppression or debility which is Iett ia tLe Ea.tern States when the utr-
The Arizona sentinel., 1900-01-24

Awhite nan 6rst 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 iR few years ex- pect to see Yuma County rated as the ii hest 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 are crowding the adobe dwellings into eternal oblivion. Yuma is the gateway O Arizona, the new empire of the West, upon whose undsveloped riches the eyes of the country are at present turned, and as such, it is bound to grow and prosper with rspidity that at present can hardly be re- slized. But coupled with her geograpb' cal position we find that she is the center of a country whose agricultural possibili- ties are practically unlimited, being sur rounded by a soil the fertility of which exceeds that of the delta of the Nile, and wanting oaly water to become paradise oi bloom. Billions of gallons of that precious hxid have annually gone to waste a' Yuma's very doors, but already reaction is taking place ard many enterprises ar' On foot to supply the life-giving waters O. ike yellow Colorado to the thirsty earth.
The Arizona sentinel., 1900-01-24
ARIZONA.
It's Attractions and Advantages as a
 Place of Residence in Winter,

Whitelaw Reid. owner and editor of the New York Tribune, v ho has spent the las: two winters in Arizona for the benefit oi his health, writes entertainingly and in structively concerning that rart of the country. Mir. Reid says:
 So many questions are asked. about Ari- zona as place for winter residence, and there appears to be such dearth of pre- else information among many who are vitally interested, that it seems almost a public duty. to set down, in the simplest form, few facts of personal observation.
 WEATHER.
 During five months residence in Southern Arizona in winter there was but one day when the weather made it actually unpleasant for me to take exercise in the open air at some time or ether during the day. Of course there were good many days which weather observer would de- scribe as "cloudy, and some that were "showery; but during these i've months from No' ember, 1895, to May, lS96,) there were only four days when we did not nave brilliant sunshine at some time dur ing the day. Even more than Egypt, any. where north of Luxor, Arizona ls the laud # sunshine. As to details:
 1EMPERATURK. have seoR the thermometer mark 92 l degrees in the shade oD my north piazss in March. On the other hand. we had frosts which killed young orange trees, and there were several nights when thin ioe formed. The government reports show a mean for fourteen years at the pres nt territorial capital of 57i degrees in november, 53 degrees ip December, 49 de- rces in January, 54 degrees in February, degrees h March and 66 degrees
The Arizona sentinel., 1900-01-24
MINES.

There is no section of the United States or probably of the earth, moro rich in min eral wealth than the County of Yuma. Al the country north, east and south of Yums lies directly within the main gold belt tha commences in Alaska and ends in Mexico From the San Bcrnardino mountains il California to the Sonora boundary line th, mountains and hills arc exceptionally rich il the precious metal. as though demonstrating the theory often advanced tkat the riches goM rsines are found oorder;ng the beds ot
The Arizona sentinel., 1900-01-24
RAIN.

Showers, and indeed heavy rains are liable to occur in every month of the uear. but the actual number of rains seems to an eastern visitor strangely small Tse average rainfall in SoutheSn Arizona, as shown by the Government obseI vations, ia but s H inches per year.
The Arizona sentinel., 1900-01-24
RIVERS OF YUMA COUNTY.

In regard to climate, healthiulness, fer
 tility and productiveness of soil, faciiiee
 for cultivation, irrigation and abundance o
 water supply, variety of resources ant
 cheap transportation by rail and by water no part of Arizon can surpass fum'
 county, which is destined to become one o richest and most prosperous counties Il Arizona.
 I. lies between 32' O0' and 34' 20' nortl latitude and llSo 2O' and ll4' 4o| wes longitude. It contains SASS, ,S2o acres. | is about as large as the States ot Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware com bixed, or as large as either New Hampshire Vermont or Massachusetts.
 The western boundary of Yuma County is torued by the Colorado river, which s.,arates Arizona from Califernia. The county is bounded on the north by Williams Fsrk and the Santa Maria river. whose waters flow into the Colorado; on the Hast 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 ritory of Arizona, and every drop ot water which falls on its mountains and plains dnds it's way to this mighty river. 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 ing snows cause a greater depth of water in this river in summer than Tn winter. thus urnishing the most water at the season when it Is most required for the purposes of irrigation and agriculture.
 Ii will be seen that for the entire distance alsng it's western boundary, Yum" County poss. sess 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 oi which are the San Pedro, Aqua 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 it's eastern to its western bound aries, possesses far greater wate+ supply than any other county in the Territory, and far more than can be found ir all Cali. ferniR.
 This water is now being diverted from its natural channels by means of 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 1 as any in the world.
 The Southern Pacific Railroad crosses the Colorado river at the town of Yuma and | runs 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- ration and cultivation, can find an easy outlet in this way and can be transpol ted to all the markets and csnters of population in the East or West.
 Another competing railroad is projected rom San Diego, California, to tte town ,f Yuma, ard thence along the north side If the Gila river. Thus Yuma County will iars exceptional railroad advantages.
The Arizona sentinel., 1900-01-24
ACTUAL HUMIDITY

This IS extren ely slight, everywhere in Arizona, as compared with any eastern climate in the United States. The air is driest on the high mesas, remote from snowclad mountains or forests. and in the desert valleys, where no considerable irri- gation has been begun
The Arizona sentinel., 1900-01-24

curY is ranging from SO0 to eo'. The air is so dry that precipitation is absorbed as soon as it reaches the surface of the body, and at nc time in the summer does the heat produce any discomfort.
The Arizona sentinel., 1900-01-24
RESOURCES OF
 YUMA COUNTY. The Soil, Climate, Rivers, and Many
 and Varied Offerings of HAIR ARIZONA'S BANNER COUNTY.

Statement of Facts Setting Forth Many Advantages by County a
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-02-14

Inasmuch as Lord Roberts. with
characteristic modesty, refrains from
giving any description in his book rs to
how he won his Victoria cross, the only
reference to the matter being brief
mention in a footnote Of three lines to
the effect that it had been awarded to
him, it may be just as we'll to state
that it was conferred upon him not for
one, but for several. feats of con.
spicuous gallantry at the battle Of Kho.
dagange. during the mutiny In one
instance he rescued a regimental flag
from several sepoys. attacking them
single handed and cutting two Of them
down, the others taking to fight. On
the same day he rescued wounded
native offic. from several sepoys. kill
ing one Of the latter on the spot by
sweep Of the saher, which split the
mans skull.
What has won for him more fame.
however, than anything else was his
march to Kandahar He had captured
kabul. the capital Of Afghanistan, aft
er the massacre OF the English envoy
there. Sir Louis Cavagnari. when news
was suddenly brought to him Of the
crushing defeat Of General Burrows ut
Maiwand. the routed forces. which
had lost their guns, being compelled
to take refuge in Kandahar, where
they were besieged by Ayub Khan.
Without a moments hesitation Lord
Roberts started with force of 10000
men from Kabul to relieve kandahar.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-02-14
A HABIT.

The lawyer asked the witness Il an
incident previously alluded to wasn't
miracle, and the witness said he didn't
know what miracle was.
"Oh, come" said the attorney. Sup
posing you were looking out Of win
dow in the twentieth story of build
ing and should fall out and should not
be injured. What would you call
that"
"An accident" was the stolid reply.
Eyes, yes; but what else would you
call it? Well, suppose you were doing
the same thing the next day; suppose
you looked out Of the twentieth story
window and fell out and again should
find yourself not injured. Now, what
would you call that?"
"a coincidence" said the witness.
"Oh. come, now," the lawyer began
again. 81 want you to understand
what miracle is. and I'm sure you do.
Now, just suppose that Oh the third
day you were looking out Of the twen-
tieth story window and fell out and
struck your head on the pavement 20
stories below and were not in the least
injured. Come, now, what would you
call itw
"Three times?" said the witness,
rousing little from his apathy. "Well,
I'd call that q habit"
And the lawyer gave It up.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-02-14
A PECULIAR SPIDER.
He Catches Birds aa Big as Larks In
His Mammoth Web.

Far up in the mountains Of Ceylon
there Is spider that spins web like
bright yellowish silk, the central net
of which is five feet In diameter, while
the supporting lines, or guys. as they
are called. measure sometimes 10 or II
feet, and. riding quickly In the early
morning. you may dash right Into 1t,
the stout threads twining round your
face like q lace veil. while, as the
creature who has woven 1t takes up his
position In the middle, he generally
catches you right in the nose, and,
though he seldom bites or stings, the
contact of his large body and long legs
is anything but pleasant If you forget
yourself and try to catch him, bite he
will, and. though not venomous, his
jaws are as powerful as a birds beak,
and you are not likely to forget the en-
counter.
The bodies of these spiders are very
handsomely decorated. being bright
gold or scarlet underneath, while the
upper part Is covered with the most
delicate slateeeolored fur. So strong are
the webs that birds the size Of larks
are frequently caught therein, and even
the small but powerful scaly lizard
falls a victim. A writer says that he
has often sat and watched the yel-
low monster-measuring. when waiting
for his prey, with his legs stretched
out. fully six inches-striding across
the middle of the net and noted the
rapid manner in which he winds MS
stout threads round the unfortunate
captive.
He usually throws the coils about
the head until the wretched victim Is
first blinded and then choked. In many
unfrequented dark hooks Of the jungle
YOU come across most perfect skeletons
of small birds caught IN these terrible
snares.-Pittsburg Dispatch.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-02-14
GENERAL WARREN.

he expected great things Of himself.
But England's confidence in Butler has
been shaken.
General Butler was known prior to
recent events as one Of the fighting
aristocrats. He gained the Victoria
cross and most Of his reputation by
fighting the Zulus. He has found the
Beers a very different proposition.
Early In his career he won favor with
Lord. Wolseley. This was during the
China war of 1860. He also took part
in the Red river expedition and was
chief Of staff in the Gordon relief ex-
pedition of 1884. But whatever pres
tige he ever had has been sadly dim.
med
General Methuen's reputation. which
went down in that catastrophe on the
'Modder river. was. 1t might almost be
said. heritage. He comes OF dis
tinguished family Of soldiers and dip
lomats. AS the heir to peerage 1t
was n comparatively easy matter for
him to gain promotion when he went
in for an army career. His active serv-
Ice consisted Of a few months during
the Bechuanaland campaign. when he
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-02-14
GENERAL GATACRE.


In Egypt and the Sudan instead Of in
India. He is not soldiers officer.
In fact. he is personally unpopular
with his men. but they have great
confidence in him. and when they
know he is planning things they are
generally sure that all will be for the
best. with victory at the end.
Kitchener Is a second Moltke In the
machinclike precision Of his calculat-
ing mind. He is a brilliant example Of
the scientific soldier. the civillzing. rail
road building. administering modern
Caesar and also the genius incarnate Of
military organization. He is known as
the general who leaves nothing un.
done" One Of the secrets Of his sue
cess Is the fact that he always makes
II n point to master the vernacular Of
the country or district In which he may
chance TO be campaigning.
The brilliant Sudan campaigns Of this
remarkable fighter are of too recent a
date to be expatated on here. Fifteen
years Of hard work. II must be remem-
bercd, preceded his brilliant victory at
Omdurman. But in South Africa there
was no chance for preparation. He
finds nothing but fighting cut out for
him.
OF the other British officers CON-
manding divisions In the war against
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-02-14

the affairs of the empire could reach
such Il grave crisis as to bring him
from practical retirement would have
been laughed at as absurd. Yet such a
crisis has occurred. and Lord Roberts
is again in harness.
"Robs." as he is atfectionately called,
is the idol of the nation. At the queens
jubilee, when he was in the procession
to St Paul's. he received almost as
much of an ovation as did the aged
queen herself. He is soldiers officer.
His very name inspires Tommy At
kins to deeds Of valor.
This man. who was selected from
list of eight field marshals and IA full
1edged generals and has been sent to
save the destiny of the British empire
in South Africa. is small. tanned,
wiry. withered up little man OF about
five feet in the perpendicular. and he
weighs but, little over 100 pounds. His
full name j. Frederick Sleigh Roberts.
Like so lEany English officers. Lord
Roberts may be said 10 have laid the
foundation for his military career on
the cricket Ids Of Eton and at ~
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-02-14
SHOOTING OUT The LIGHTS.
An Occasion When the Old Ranch
man Saw the Trick Done.

An Occasion When the Old Ranch
man Saw the Trick Done.
According to western stories," said
q former ranchman, lone Of the favor
ite amusements of frontier despera-
does is shooting out the lights l neV-
er saw it done but once, but the Incl
dent made sufficient impression on my
mind to last me for life. 1t was at
Benton, q small camp on the old Stake
Plain trail, in northeastern New MeXi-
co. was staying there over night
with a couple Of cattlemen, and we
naturally gravitated to the only resort
in town, q sort Of combination Of bar
and gambling house, in a rough one
story building. containing good sized
single room.
"The bar was on one side, and on
the other were two or three Mexican
monte tables, over each Of which were
several large coal oil lamps In wall
brackets. In the center Of the place
was chandelier containing three
more, altogether giving good deal of
light. We were sitting at one side
smoking and talking, when In rushed
half dozen drunken cowboys, headed
by q we'll known ranchman named
Bill Wells.
"The crowd were out for excitement
and didn't care how they got it. They
took several drinks and then clustered
around one of the monte tables. In
few moments Wells insisted upon max
ing a bet over the limit, to which the
dealer objected. IF you don't turn for
that bet, I'll shoot out your blankety
blank lightsp bawled the ranchman.
The leemit ez feety dollar said the
Mexican dealer, and the words were no
sooner out Of his mouth than Wells
and his gang pulled their six shooters
and began blazing away at the lamps.
"About 25 or>30 shots were fired, and
almost at the outset the place was in
complete darkness. OF course there
was a stampede, but remember being
surprised that had heard no crash
Of glass. Half an hour later I went
back and found the place lit up as
brightly as ever, Wells and his cow
boys having been taken away by
friends. The roof was full Of holes.
but not a single lamp had been hit.
What had put them out was the con-
cussion Of the shots in a confined
space" New Orleans Times-Demo-
crat.