The Arizona sentinel., 1905-05-10
COLORADO and ella VALLEYS

In the valleys OF the Colorado ard GiIa rivers
there is room for thousands. IT is not toe much
to say that rowhere within the limits of this
broad union can be found more desirable re-
gion for the making OF home. No iaborouis
clearing of the land is required; it lies almost
ready for the plOW. Trees ard Shrubbery have
so rapid growth that within eighteen months
the immigrant can surround his : bode with at;
fractions which would require years to mature
in less favored climates. Fruits ripen and are
ready for the market n foil month before the
California products. The bright sunshine
makes life 4 luxury. and the pure dry atmos-
pbere brings health to all who infiale 1t. For
the establishment of colonies, such as are made
in Southern California, Arizona presents un:
rivaled opportunities. Thousands of acres now
prOtitleSS can be made productive by the con-
struction of irrigating bitches, and there is mo-
investment which assures larger and more per-
manent return.
The statements in this article on Yuma county
are not exaggerated; in fact they fail short Of
doing justice to this wonderful bit Of Country
PineappleS dates, almonds and walrutS will do
we'll. Strawberries, raspberr1es, Dlaek6errless
currents goOseberries and all varieties or
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 cBpital seeking large and re-
munerative returns than is afforded here With
u matchleSS climate, where all forms OF dis
ease known to the damp and vigorous regions
OF the east and north are unknown. where the
bright sunshine kisse' into bloom and fra:
GRANGE every form of vegetation, and where the
clear days and cool balmy nights are one long
continued poem OF happiness and delight we
offer TO capitalists an ideal Held for invest
ment and to hOmeSeekefS u. Verltable paradise
! in which to settle.
The soil Of these valleys is among the richest
on the continent 1t IS formed OF the detritus
which the streams for ages have brought down
| from their mountain homes in their journey
to the sea. BY constant oyerffowS and change
| OF channel. the deposit of this rich vegetable
matter has formed soil OF extreme er vility
Near the streams it IS dark alluvial mold;
we'll adapted TO small grains and grasses. Far:
| ther back there is a rich sandy loGm, mellow
and porous, and especially favorable for fruit
culture. 1t 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-
lidc is the growth CT the fruits cereals and veg
ctLbleS that the labor 61 the ctltivItor is re-
duccd TO the minimum. In nearly all OF them two
| crops u year can be grown. and vegetation iS
| one month head OF California rhe farmer
plants o cottonwood Saprrng before hfs DOOR
| and within the year he has shade tree twenty
tive feet high! Alfalfa can be cut six times dur
ing the season, and it Is an actual fact that
grape cuttings have produced within eighteen
months What state territory can make
such a showing? The climate, it must be re-
membered. is nearly perpetual summer. Snow
never falls in these southern valleys. The far
mcr begins to plant in November and by the
middle of May his harvest is ready. Roses are
| In bloom, fruit trees are blooming, and the
grain fields are 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
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
1 fOfN
the United States can be grown in Arizona, and
nowhere are they found of better quality.
Besides the products mentioned, these semi
tropical valleys produce cotton sugar-cane, to-
bacco. hemp and rice. With the exception OF
the Sugar-cane, but little attention is paid to-
the cultivation of other staples; but it has beer
demonstrated that the soil and climate are
specially adapted to their successful growth:
PCotton-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 ella valley.
But it is their adaptability for fruit culture
that assures to these valley lands a dense pop
ulation and prosperous future. Almost every
variety known can be raised in their fruitful
soils The apple. pear, plum, peach, apr1coti
ounce and nectarine. are OF delicious flavor
and give 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 prolific yield. The quality
is all that could be desired; and the wine
although it's manufacture is yet experimental
is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet, and un-
surpassed by any native product as table bev
erage. 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.
Besides 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-
IONA orange in quality and flavor will compare
fayorably with the best California.
I'm the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and
the Gila rivers there is room for thousands
1t 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-
qured; it lies almost ready for the plow.
Trees and Shrubbery have 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
climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for mar
lSet full month before the California product.
The bright sunshine is a luxury, and the pure.
dry atmosphere brings health to all whoinhale
it. For the establishment of colonies, such as
have made of Southern California n garden.
Arizona presents unrivaled opportunities:
Thousands OF. acres, now pfoftlesS,. can be
made productive by the construction of irrigat'
ing bitches, and there is no investment which
assures larger or more permanent returns.