The Arizona sentinel., 1904-09-21
COLORADO AND AN.
 GIlA VALLEYS.

In the valleys of the Colorado and Giia rivers there is room for thousands. It is not too much to say that nowhere within the limits of this broad union can be found more desirable re- zion for the making of a home. No laboriousS clearing Of the land is required; 1t lies almost ready for the blow. Trees aud shFubbery have so rapid growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode with at fractions which would require years to mature in less favored climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for the market a full month before the California products. The bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure dry atnos- phere brings health to all who inhale it. For the establishments of colonies such as are made in Southern California, Arizona presents un- riyaled opportunities. Thousands Of acres now prottlesS can be made productive by the con- struction of irrigating ditches, and there is no investment which assures larger and more per
 The statements in this article OnYuma county are not exaggerated; in fact they fall short of doing justice to this wonderful bit of country PineappleS, dates, almonds and walnutS will do well. Strawberries, raspberrieS, black berries entrants, g0OSeOerrieS and all varieties Of small fruits can be successfully cultivated. In deed, Yuma county is not only the natural home of the citrus and semitropical fruits, as almost every fruit, nut plant, grain, grass. or vegetable which can be produced in either tropic of the temperate zones will thrive in the rich and fertile soils.
 With the bright prospects ahead of the town of Yuma and Yuma county there can be no bet ter investment for capital seeking large and re- munerative returns than is afforded here. With Q matchleSS climate, where all forms Of dis ease known to the damp and rigorous regions of the east and north are unknown. where the bright sunshine kiSSe' into bloom and fra grance every form of vegetation and where tho clear days and cool balmy nights are one long continued poem of happiness and delight, we can offer to capitalists ideal field for invest ment and to hOmeSeekerS veritable paradise in which to settle.
 The soil of these valleys is among the richest on the continent. It is formed of the dctrituS which the streams for ages have brought down from their mountain homes in their journey to the sea- By constant Overftows and change of channel the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has formed a soil of extreme fertility
 Near the streams it is a dark alluvial mold,
 we'll adapted to small grains and grasses. Far ther back there is a rich sandy lOam, mellow and porous and especially favorable for fruit culture It has been already demonstrated
 that the productive capacity of these valleys is not surpassed by lands of equal area m any
 part of the United States. So rapid and pro- life is the growth of thefruitS, cereals and veg
 et.sbles that She labor of the etltivat0r is re- 4uced to the minimum In nearly all of them two crops year can be grown, and vegetation is one month head of California. The farmer
 plants cottonwood saplins before his door, and within the year he has shade tree twenty five feet hight Alfalfa can be cut six times dur ing the season, and it is actual fact that grape cuttings have produced within eighteen months. What state or territory can make such d showing1 The climate. is must be ulembered. is nearly perpetual slfmMer- Snow never falls in these southern valleys. The fay- mer begins to plant fR November, and by the middle of May his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom. fruit trees are blooming. and the grain fields are a sea of green. when the fields of the Eastern farmers are covered with snow and ice.
 Every variety of grains. grasses fruits and vegetables grown in Semitropic zones can be produced in the valleys of Arizona Wheat corn barley oats and all the small grains give
 a yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels per | acre. Alfalfa, timothy, clover, Bermuda and | all the cultivated grasses grow luxuriantly, the former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre
 each year, Every variety of vegetable raised Tn | the United States can be grown in Arizona, and
 nowhere are they found of better quality | Besides the products mentioned these semi l tropical valleys produce cotton, Sugar-caHe, to- | bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of | the sugar cane, but little attention is paid tO
 the cultivation of other staples; bat it has been
 demonstrated that the soil and climate arc 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 ill the Gila valley.
 But it is their adAptability for fruit esasmye
 shat assures to these valley lands dense pop
 ulatf0n and prosperous future. Almost every
 variety known can be raised in their fruitful soils The apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quinee and nectarine,- are of delicious flavor. | and give 3 generous yield. The grape of all va | rietieS Is at home in these sunny wales. No
 place in the grape growing belt of the Pacific coast can show SO prolific yield. The quality | is all that could be desired; and the wine, although it's manufacture IS yet experimcnsa l
 surpassed by any native product as q table bey- craze. Experiments with the raisin grape have shown that th's climate and soil possess every advantage for the production and curing of this staple article of commerce.
 | Besides the fruits already mentioned, the
 orange, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomgranate and
 others of the citrus family. can be grown suc- cesSfully in the valleys of Southern Arlzona< 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 | favorably with the best California
 | Tn the valleys of the Colorado. the Salt and | the Gila rivers. there IS room for thousands | It is 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 a | home No laboriouS clearing of the land IS re- quired: it lies almost ready for the blow. | Trees and shrubbery have SO rapid growth | that within eighteen months the immigrant can
 surround his abode with attractions which would require years to mature In less favored | climates. Fruits ripan and are ready for mar | kct full month before the California product | The bright sunshine Is luxury -and the pure, l dry atmosphere brings bealth sO all who inhale | it. For the establishment of colonies, such aS
 have made of Southern California garden. ! Arizona presents unriYaled opportunities | Thousands of acres, pr0htiesS- can be
 made productive by the construction Of lrr1gat- | ing dftcheS. and there Is no investment which
 assures larger or more permanent returns.