The Arizona sentinel., 1903-09-30
COLORADO AN. AN.
 CHA VALLEYS

A V
 In the valleys of the Colorado and Gila rivers there iSroOm for thousands. It is not too much to say that nowhere within the limits of this broad union cdn be found aSmOrc desirable To- gion for the making of home. No laboriouS clearing of the land is required; it lies almost ready for the blow. Trees aud Shrubbcry have so rapid a growth that within eighteen months t;le immigrant can surround his abode with at- fractions which would require years to mature in less favored climates. Fruits ripcn and arc ready for the market q full month before the California products. The bright sunshine makes life d luxury. and the pure dry atmoS- phere brings health to all who inhale it. For the establishment of colonies. such as are made 1n Southern California. Arizona presents riVaied opportunities. Thousands of acres now proitleSs can be made productive by the con- structiol of irrigating dtcheS, and there Is no investment which assures larger and more per mancnt return.
 The statements in this article onYuna county are not exaggerated: in fact they fall short of doing justice tG this wonderful bit of country PincappleS. dates, almonds and wsAnutS will do well. Strawberries, raSpbeTries; bfIcllberrieS, currants gooseberFies and aH varieties of small fruits can be successfully cultivated. h. deed. Yuma county is not only the natural home of the citrus and Semitropicak fruits, as almost every fruit Rutt plant grain. grass, or vegetable. which can be prOducett in either tropfe of the temperate zones will thrive in the fich and fertile soils
 With the bright prospects afseSts of tfSe town og Yuma and Yuma county there caN be DO bet ter Investment for cepitsl seeking large and re- muneratve returns than iS afforded here, With matchleSS climate, where all forms Of etfS- ease known to the damp and rigorous regions of the east and north are unknown, where the bright sunshine klssse~ into bloom and fra grance every form of vegetation. aud where the clear days and cool balmy nights are one long continued poem of happiness and delight, we can offer to capitalists an ideal field for invest nent and to hoIneSeekerS d veritable paradise in which to settle.
 The soil of these valleys is among the richest on the continent. It is formed of the detrituS which the streams 5or ages have brought down from their mountain homes in their journey to the sea. By constant Overf1oWS and change of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has formed soil of extreme fertility. Near the streams it is a dark alluvial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses Far ther back there is a rich sandy loam. mellow and porous, and especially favorable for fruit culture. E5 has been already demonstrated that the productive capacity of these valleys is not surpassed by lands of equal area in any part of the United States So rapid and pro- life is the growth of thefrGitS, cereals and veg etdbleS that the labor of the cutivator is re- crops year can be grown, and vegetation is one month head Of California The farmer plants cottonwood sapling before his door, and within the year he has d shade tree twenty five feet bight Alfalfa can be cut six times dur ing the season. and it is an actual fact that grape cuttings have produced Wfthtn eighteen months. What state or territory eGn make such ShGWing> The climate, it must be re- meTnbercd, hS nearly perpetual summer. Snow never falls in these southern valleys The far Iner begins to plant in NOVemOe per- and by the middle of May his harvest fS ready. Roses are in bloom fruit trees ase blooming, and tae grain fields are q sea of green when the fields of the Eastern farmers are c0VerStr WFtA snow and ice.
 Every variety of grains, grasses, fruits sn9 vegetables grown in SemitrOpic zones. can be produced in she valleys Of Arizona. Wheat, corn barley, oats and all the small grains give yield Of from twenty-five to fifty. bushels per acre. Alfalfa, timothy, clover; Bernuda and all the cultivated grasses grow luxurlantiy' the former giving from eight to cen tons to the acre each year. Every variety of vegetable raised ill the United States can be grown in AIizona, and nowhere are they found of better quality
 Besides the products mentioned. these semi tropical valleys produce cotton, Sug2r-cane, to- bacco hemp and rice. With the exception Of the Sugar-cane. but little attention k paid to the cultivation of other staples; but It has been demonstrated that the soil and climate are specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton-growing is no experiment in Arizona, for it is on record that when the Europeans first penetrated this region. they found the Pima Indians wearing fabrics made of cotton grown in the Gila valley.
 But it is their adLptability for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense pop ulation and prosperous future. Almost every variety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. The apple, pear, plum, peach. apricot, quince and ncctarine, are of delicious H2Vor, and give q generous yield. The grape Of all va rietieS is at home in these sunny wales. No place in the gTape-growlng belt or the Paclhc
 
 iS all that could be desired; and the wine, although it's manufacture is yet experimental, iS of a fine flavor. delicious bouquet and un- surpassed by any native product table bev- craze Experiments with the raiSin grape have shown that this climate and soil possess every advantage for the production and curing of this staple article of commerce.
 .sBeSideS the fruits already mentioned. the orange. lemon, lime, olive fig, pomgranate and others of the citrus family, can be grown sue ceSsfully in the valleys Of Southern Arizona. Orange trees are now in bearing In Salt river valley and at Yuma: while the banana is also being cultivated at the latter place. The Ari- Zona orange in quality and flavor will compare faTorably with the best California.
 '~Tn ehe valleys of the Colorado. the Salt and the CIila rivers. there is room for thousands. Tt fS not too much to say that nowhere within the limits. of this broad Union can be found a more desirable region for the making of home No laboriouS clearing of the lap6 is re- quired> it lies almost ready for the piow. Trees and Shrubbery h;sve'~So rapid a growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode with attractions which would require years to mature in less favored climatcs Fruits ripen and arc ready for mar ket a full month before the California product. The bright sunshine is a luxury and the pure. dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale it. For the. establishment of colonies, such have made of Southern California garden, Arizona presents unrivaled opportunities Thousands of acres, now profitlesS can be made productive by the construction of Trigat- ing ditcheS and there is no investment which assures larger or more permanent returns.