The Arizona sentinel., 1905-04-26
COLORADO and GILA VALLEYS

In the valleys Of the Colorado ard ella 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 Il more desirable re-
giOn for the making of Il home No laborouiS
clearing Of the land is required; IL lies almost
ready for the ploW. Trees ard ShrpDbery have
so rapid d 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 q full month before the
California products. The bright sunshine
makes life luxury and the pure dry atnoS-
pbere brings health to all who inhale it. For
the establishment of colonies. such as are made
in Southern California, Arizona presents un-
riyaled opportunities. Thousands Of acres now
prOhtleSS can bc 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 on Yuma 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 blackGcrricS,
currents gooSeDerrieS and all varieties of
small fruits cal. be successfully cultivated. In
deed Yuma county is not only the natural
home OF the citrus and seIn1troplcal 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
IL matchleSS climate. where ali 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
can offer to capitalists an ideal eld for invest
ment and to homeSeeEerS 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 OverhOwS and change
of channel, the deposit OF this rich vegetable
matter has formed soil of extreme fertility
Near the streams it is u dark aliuvlal mold,
well adapted TO small grains and grasses Far
ther back there is u rich sandy loan. 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-
life is the growth Of thefruits cereals and veg
ctLbleS that the labor of the cultivator is re-
duced to the minimum, In nearly all of them two
crops q year can be grown, and vegetation is
one month head of California. The farmer
plants a cottonwood SapliDg before his door,
and within the year he has a shade tree twenty
five feet high! Alfalfa can be cut six times dur
ing the season, and 1t Is an actual TACT that
grape cuttings have produced within eighteen
months What state or territory can make
such showing? The climate, 1t 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 Il sea of green, when the heldS
of the Eastern farmers are covered with snow
and ice.
Every variety Of grains, grasses, fruits and
vegetables grown in scmitropic zones can be
produced in the valleys of Arizona wheat,
corn barley oats and all the small grains give
d 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 wear. Every variety Of vegetable raised IN
the United States can be grown in Altoona, 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 &c
the cultivation OF other staples: but 1t has Decn
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 Ella valley.
@But il is their adlptahility for fruit culture
| that assures to these valley lands Il dense pop
ulation ana prosperous future. Almost every
variety known can be raised in their fru tfu
soils. The apple. pear, plum, peach, apricot
ounce and nectarine. are OF delicious haVOr
| and give q generous yield. The grape OF all va
rietieS is ut home in these sunny wales. Nc
place in the grape growing belt OF the Pacl nt
! coast can snow so DrOllNc ylclu Inc QutLiluA
| 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 ant
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 aiSt
| being cultivated at the latter place: The Arl
ZOna orange in quality and flavor Will compare
| favorably with the best California.
In the valleys of the Colorado. the Salt anC
the Gila rivers. there is room for thousands
| 1t is not too much to say that nowhere withiI
the limits OF this broad Union can be found d
more desirable region for the making of {
home No laboriOuS clearing of the land Is re
| quired; it lies almost ready for the plow
| Trees and Shrubbery have so rapid growth
| tffift within eighteen months the Immigrant car
surround his abode with attractions which
would require years to mature in less favored
| climates Fruits ripen and are ready for mar
| kel full month before the California product
The bright sunshine is luxury, and the pure
dry atmosphere brings health to all who 1nhalt
| it, For the establishment of colonies, such q!
| have made of Southern California garden
| Arizona presents unrivaled opportunities
Thousands of acres, now profitleSS, can b'
made productive by the construction of lrrlgat
| ing bitches. and there is no investment WHICH