The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1908-11-18

the Colorado on both sides, incident TO the
/ tiepositidg Of this mass of debris during all
the past ages Golug through the country
on the Arizona side of the river, for several
miles below Yuma, one encounters the same
type of country and soil that is found in the
Imperial Valley country around Brawley,
Calexico and other points west OF the river
The fertility Of the black prairie soils of Hi
nOis has astonished people engaged in agri-
culture for nearly one hundred years. The
fertility of the valleys Ct the Nile has been a
matter Of history for at least 5000 years. Those
who are familiar with Illinois prairie soil,
and those who know what the valley Of the
Nile is for agriculture. Know that this lower
Colorado River region surpasses both Of them.
If you ask a farmer along this stretch Of
country if the soil is six feet, his eyes viii
open with establishment 81 your ignorance.
He viii tell You 10 one knows whether it is
% feet, e0e or $500 feet deep Ii IS practically
without bottom. IL is So thoroughly we'll
mixed with sand, disintegFated granite and
other rocks that it never breaks. It is as
easily worked as heap OF ashes, and re-
spends to cultivation in way that is mar
Vicious.
CUT SEVEN CROPS YEARLY.
Arizona has established an experiment
station in the heart Of this big valley, which
is some vventy-four miles long, and in spots
ten 10 twelve miles wide, down on the lower
level. The results are wonderful. Last week
they were cutting crop of alfalfa on this ex-
perimental farm, and for seven consecutive
months they viii cut succeeding crops The
only months when the crop IS not cut here are
December and January.
Cotton and tobacco grow with the greatest
lUXuria2ce and this rich alluvial soil will be
noted in a very few years as the ideal spot in
the whole'country for d8irying, hog raising
the production of poultry and vegetables, which
one hesitates to call early or late, as they will
be perennial. New potatoes VIII be produced
Il The middle Of january, tomatoes win be
ripe by the first OF March, ripe grapes VIII be
gathered in the early DAYS Of Glay, and april
cots by The middle Of the same month. Chic
kens and turkeys flourish there il the winter
time beyond all experience anywhere else.
The rainfall is exceedingly light and comes
only three or four times in a whole winter.
With an abundance of green alfalfa and vegct-
ableS the dry and not overheated climate
prevailing in the winter months, chickens are
4AtC ALO444 hlSCdSC I-lGG L4dAC LlitlI IdiSlE
difficult elsewhere. There is no spot in South
ern Illinois or Missouri 50 adapted TO the pro-
duction Of corn as this valley along the Colora-
do River. With alfalfa and corn the butter,
cheese, eggs. poultry and PORK to be raised on a
twenty-acre farm viii amaze those who have
the experience in American agricultural affairs
The winter climate around Yuma is d thing
so intOXicatingly salUbrious hat no words car
describe it. Those deserts OF America, as we
have regarded them heretofore, seem to defy
The Ills that hunan nature elsewhere is so
prone 20 contract and suffer from. The atmoS
phere is as dry as punk, the skies cloudIessly
clear the air mid possible, and every
breath seems to be an inspiration OF new life.
The United States has an experiment farm on
the mesa Just on the outskirts Of Yuma. Here
Ults even more marvellous than in the valley
are produced Down on the lower levels there
are little nips OF frosty mornings occasionally
during December and January, out on the mesa
the breath of frost never touches the most del
icate vegetation. Oranges grown al the FEEDER
al experiment station are unsurpassed i'll their
delicious lality.
Yuma i Il busy Ip-to-datc town. The more
modern Improvements consist OF several blocks
of attractive brick buildings three-story post
Office building. also Of brick. and many other
nice structures. Among some OF the greater
Improvements which are being made are q
$4,000 school building, a $4,000 ice plant,
fine clubhouse for The railroad employees Il
larger passenger depot, and the probability OF
a new court house to cost @75,CC0. There IS con
siderable business done there, but the people /
have not begun 10 awaken TO the vast possibiN /
ties Of the place. They should at once erect an /
up-to-G&te tourist hotel. 1t should have ample
grounds around il and be planted with all +
kinds Of tropical vegetation II atmosphere
were only transportable like mineral waters
and enc could send c0nsignmcnts Of this Yuma
winter air to the East the inspiration Of its .
health-giging Qualities would. bring 25c00
tourists every winter to the banks Of ;he Colo (
RADIO River.
Yuma needs only to make known its climatic
in the parts of the East swept every +
year By Billiards and snowstoI1ns to attract a
city fuu every winter. The fertility of the val
ley below viii almost make Itself known with /
out effort on the part Of the people. But with q
valley full of intelligent AID Industrious rural
population, producing fruits and vegetables
poultry. eggs. fresh milk and fragrant butter 4
Yuma should be one OF the most delightful /