The Arizona sentinel., 1902-07-09
Colorado Valley,

-
 portion of the Colorado valley extend
 from Yuma southward to the Mexican ltne, distance of twenty-two mile!
 and 1t averages about five miles il
 width, presenting a domain of approx
 imately S0,00O square miles, This i:
 the portion of Yuma county most fav.
 ored by nature, of the greatest poten
 tlal wealth, the greatest opportunities
 for enterprise and industry and the
 portion destined to display the great.
 est wealth and the densest population.
 It is important to mention particu-
 larly the climate, as this region has
 Hnjustly suffered from a reputation for
 exceptionally intense heat. The mid
 summers are hot, but in the very dry
 air the heat brings no sense of oppres-
 sion, farmers labor in the sun without
 inconvenience on the hottest days of
 the year, sunstrOke is unknown and
 experience and statistics show that the
 climate is exceptionally healthful
 The valley thus described is by vir- tue of the combination of d soil re- markedly well adapted to the nurture of vegetation and climate which pro- notes marvellous rapidity of vege- table growth, without peer in the world in the variety of products to which it is adapted and the prolific and luxuriant growth of q wide range of agricultural and horticultural pro- ducts. These products include those of the sub-trOpical and great many of the tropical and temperate zones.
 Various staple crops, including alfal- ia, barley, corn, vegetables, etc., now form the bulk of the products grown along the Colorado. but good start has been made in the cultivation of various sub-trOpical and deciduous fruits which have been experimentally shown to be exceptionally adapted to this soil and climate.
 Alfalfa is an exceptionally successful crop and seven or eight cuttings are made per year. Sugar cane attains surprising growth and the sugar beet promises to become one of the chief staple products of the region. Experi- mentS with cotton have always had satisfactory results.
 A long list of fruits have been shown to yield abundantly and to ripen earl fer than elsewhere. The orange, lem on and lime yield abundantly and are large and luscious. The grape ma lures into choice product and the fig, l olive and pOmegranate are destined to be leading products. Dates are grown | with magnificent success and the mul- | berry Is another superior product. | The various deciduOus fruits and ber- ries ripen early and yield abundantly
 All these results follow the enter prise of man in bringing to this deep and fertile soil the neVer-failing waters that are right at hand in overwhelm- ing abundance. Only irrigation, and, in the lower bottoms that are subject to inundation, protecting levees, are needed to fill this favored land with a intellignt and happy popula- tion.
 Many will wonder why irrigation systems and levees were not supplied to the Lower Colorado valley a genera tion ago. The reason is the simple one that under existing circumstances such enterprises could not until quite recently be adequately carried out Years ago, just as hOmseekers began coming to improve nature s advantages here, a claim to a Mexican land grant alleged to cover 5O,O0O acres of this valley was asserted and the litigation that followed lasted for many years. The claim was finally defeated, but it has been only within less than two years that assured titles could be gained.
 A good many miles of irrigating 1itches have been built in recent years. mainly, until within two years. by CO., operative associations of farmers. and it is the result gained from these com recent irrigation experi- nents that has drawn the increasing population of today and warranted the present large investment of capital.