The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1908-11-25

the Colorado Oh both sides, incident TO the
depositidg Of this mass of debris during all
/ the past ages. Going 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 Braw'ey,
CaleXico and other points west of the river
The fertility of the black prairie soils of I'LL
nois has astonished people engaged in agri-
culture for nearly one hundred years. The
fertility of the valleys Of the Nile has been a
matter of history for at least 5000 years. Those
who are familinr with Illinois praiFic 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
fyou ask a farmer along this stretch Of
country If the soil is six feet, his eyes will
open with establishment al your ignorance
He will tell you no one knows whether 1t is
% feet 600 or 5000 feet deep. 1t is practically
without bottom. ii is sO thoroughly well
mixed with sand, disintegrated granite and
other rocks that il never breaks. 1t is as
easily worked as a heap Of ashes, and re-
spends to cultivation in 4 way that is mar
velous.
CUT SEVEN CROPS YEARLY.
Arizona has established an experiment
station in the heart Of this big valley, which
is some twenty-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 will cut succeeding crops The
only months when the crop Is not cut here are
December and January.
Cotton and tobacco grow with the greatest
luxuriance and this rich alluvial soil will be
noted in a very few years as the ideal spot in
the whole country for dairying, hog raising.
the production of poultry and Vegetables, which
one hesitates to call early or late, as they will
be perennial. New potatoes will be produced
in the middle of January, tomatoes will be
-ipe by the first of March, ripe grapes will be
gathered in the early days Of May, and april
cots by the middle Of the same month Chic
Iens and turkeys flourish there in the winter
line beyond all experience anywhere else.
The rainfall is exceedingly light and comes
My three or four times in a whole winter
With an abundance of green alfalfa and veget-
able the dry and not overheated climate
prevailing in the winter months, chickens are
rec from the disease that make their raising
iificult elsewhere. There is no spot in South
arn Illinois or Missouri so 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
twenty-acre farm will amaze those who have
the experience in American agricultural affairs
The winter climate around Yuma is n thing
so intoxicatingly salubrious That no words can
describe il. Those deserts Of America, as we
have regarded them heretofore, seem to defy
the Ills that human nature elsewhere is so
prone TO contract and suffer from The atmos
pherc is as dry as punk, the skies cloudlessly
clear the air mild As 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
arc produced. Down on the lower levels there
arc little nips OF frosty mornings occasionally
during December and January, but on the mesa
the breath Of frost never touches the most del
icatc vegetation. Oranges grown at the FEEDER
al experiment station are unsurpassed in their
delicious ialiiy.
Yuma is q busy, up-to-date town. The more
modern Improvements consist OF several blocks
OF attractive brick buildings thrce-story post
Office building, also OF brick, and many other
nice structures. Among some of the greater
improvements which are being made, are a
S35, eco school building, a S75.c00 ice plant, q
fine clubhouse for the railroad employees, 4
larger passenger depot, and the probability Of
a new court house TO cost S75 OO0. There is con-
siderable business done there, but the people
have not begun to awaken TO the vast possbili
tics of the place. They should at once erect an
up-to-datc tourist hotel. IL should have ample
grounds around it and be planted with all
kinds OF tropical vegetation. II atmosphere
we're only transportable like mineral waters,
and one could send consignments of this Yuma
winter air TO the East, the inspiration Of its
health-giving qualities would bring 25CO0
tourists every winter to the banks Of the Colo
RADIO River.
Yuma needs only TO make known its climatic
attractions in the parts OF the East swept every
year by blizzardS and snowstorms to attract
city full every winter. The fertility Of the val
ley below will almost make itself known with
out effort on the part OF the people. But with a
valley full Of intelligent and industrious rural
population, producing fruits and vegetables,
poultry, eggs. fresh milk ana fragrant butter,
y una should be one of the most delightful |
winter resorts in all America. There is every
thing there 70 furnish tourists with 'hc most