The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1905-04-12
COLORADO and GILk VALLEYS

In the valleys of the Colorado ard 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 re-
gion for the making of home. No labo rouiS
clearing of the land is required; it lies almost
ready for the plow Trees and shrubbery have
so rapid q growth that within eighteen months
the immigrant surround his :, bode with at
fractions which would require years to mature
in less favored climates Fruits ripen and are
ready for the market full month before the
California products. The bright sunshine
makes life o luxury, and the pure dry atmos-
phere brings health to all who inhale it, For
the establishment of colonies. such aS are made
in Southern California. Arizona presents IN
rivaled opportunities. Thousands of acres now
prohtless can be made productive by the con-
Struction Of irrigating bitches, and there Is no
investment which assures larger and more per-
manent return.
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, OlackberrfeS,
currents, gooseberries and all varieties of
small fruits can be successfully cultivated. In
deed, Yuma county IS not only the natural
home Of the citrus Ghd Semitropical fruits as
almost every fruit, hut,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 cGpital seeking large and re-
muneratite returns than is afforded here. With
matcbleSS climate, where all forms of dis
ease known to the damp and vigorous regions
Of the east and north arc unknown, where the
bright sunshine kiSSe' into bloom and fra
grante every form OF vegetation and where the
clear days and cool balmy nights are one long
continued poem of happiness and delight, we
can offer to capitalists an ideal ed 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 detTituS
which the streams for ages have brought down
from their mountain homes in their journey
to the sea. BY constant overtows and change
Of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable
matter has formed q soil of extreme fertility
Near the streams it Is a dark alluvlal mold
well adapted to small grains and grasses Far
ther back there is a rich sandy loam, mellow
and porous, and especially favorable Tor 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-
life is the growth OF thefruts, cereals and veg=
ct.ibleS that the labor Of the cultivator is re-
duced 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 Sapling before his door,
| and within the year he has shade tree twenty
five feet highl Alfalfa can be cut six times dur:
| ing the season, and 1t is an actual fact that
grape cuttings have produced within eighteen
months! What state or territory can make
| such showing? The climate, 1t must be re-
mem bered. is nearly perpetual summer. Snow
never falls In these southern valleys. The far
mer 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 q 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 Ariz3na Wheat,
corn, barley, oats and all the small grains give
| q yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels per
acre. Alfalfa, timothy, clover, Bermuda and
all the cultivated grasses grow luxuriantly the
inIyt RI foT1t tn fhfa
each year, Every variety of vegetable raised in
the United States can be grown in Arizona, and
nnwhere arc they found OF better quality.
Besides the products mentioned, these semi
/ tropical valleys produce cotton, Sugar-cale to-
bacco, hemp and rice; With the exception ot
! the sugar cane, but little attention is paid TO
the cultivation of other staples; but IL has been
| demonstrated that the soil and climate are
| specially adapted TO their successful grow th.
| Cotton-growing is no experiment. in Arizonu,
| 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 CHA valley.
But it Is their addptability for fruit culture
that assures to these valley lands d dense pop;
ulation and n prosperous future. Almost every
| variety known can be raised In their fruitful
soils. The apple, pear, plum peach, apricot,
ounce and nectarine, arc OF delicious flavor,
| and give u generous yield. The grape of all va
| rieties is at home IN these sunny vaFes; 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 experimental,
| is CT fine flavor, delicious bouquet and un-
surpassed by any native product as q 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.
| 'BcsfdeS the fruits already mentioned, the
orange, lemon, lime, olive, fig pong ranace and
others of the citrus family, can be grown sue
| cesst6lfy 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 qualfty and flavor VIII Compare
| favorabiy With the best California.
| I'm the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and
| the Gila rivers there IS room for thousands.
It is not Zoo much to say THAT nowhere within
| the limits of this broad Uni6Y can be found a
more desirable region for the making OF a
| home. No aboriouS clearing OF the land is re-
quired; It lies almost ready for the plow:
| Trees and si1rubbery Fave SO rapid a growth
| that Within efgRteen months the immigrant can
surround his abode with attractions which
would require years to mature I'M less favored
| climates: Fruits ripen and are ready for mar
ket 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 establishments of colonies, such as
have made Of Southern California 4 garden,
| Arizona presents unrivaied opportunities.
| Thousands Of acres, now proftleSs, can be
made productive by the construction CT lrrIgat
| ing dftehes, and there is no investment which