The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1909-07-29
POSSIBILITIES OF YUMA
REGION UHfATHOMED
The Soil Simply Marvellous in Its
Pr0dHCtiyeneSS
And the Climate is Iat0xiCatin0ly
SaIBbriOus
BY GEORGE n. BURTON,
In los Angeles Times,

I'm los Angeles Times.
IL is very far from a standardization siDc1
three little open beats under the flag OF Spain
Arst touched the waters OF the western hemf
sphere and revealed the new world 20 tho
eyes OF Europeans. 1t is only little over a
century since the United States of America
sPrang, 50 TO speak, like Palias Athene FROM
the brain Of J0ye, a completely armed ad-
clifton to the family Of nations 1t is but
little -vcr half a century since California be-
came a part OF these United States of America,
and less than a generation since the settle
nent of the Great South vest began.
In all the l25 years since the Republic was
founded, also in the half century since Cali
fDrnia became one of The States Of the Union.
and during every year Of the last thirty, Il re-
aIization Of the vast riches of the American
continent, Of the territory or the United
States and OF this Great Southwest has been
more and more astonishing to the minds of
men. One would suppose that by today we
knew pretty thoroughly what the undevelop-
ed resources OF the Great Southwest might
reasonably I've expected to become. We have
not reached the depths of this great ocean of
wealth with our plWpmet line yet.
I'm residence OF forty years on the Coast
the writer thought he knew little about
what there is Oh the Coast, and as most of
thcse years have been spent in and around
Los Angeles, he naturally had n little con-
ocit that lac WAS pretty weM acquainted with
She Great Southwest. Last week a trip TO the
Colorado River botto8ss. below YHBsa made
hsIn fesf as Il tendeTfoOt wIae bad come fn on
the lash train New to lIipa. shis vs0tseTful
rcg5sn and ITS possibilities arc pretty well
kno$En To- a great many readers of Tire Times
by the saeyies published, if not By Me demon
strati0z Of tsseiT OVID eyes
Yuma liesosr the nap just twelve aifcs
from WHERE the government rs putting in the
great Lsguna dam, at the confluence of the
ella and Colorado Rivers. It is twelve miles
from Yuma down the river to the Mexican
Boundry line on the Arizona side OF the river
AT one point, just below Yuma, the intcrna-
tional boundry line runs up along the river
which there takes westerly trend and from
Yuma to Mexico rs only a few miles.
ONCE A MIGHTY STREAM.
Ages ago when the mountain ranges OF
Arizona and California lowered toward the
stars, at least twice as high as they do now,
rains were very freduent and Came down in
torrcntial volumes all along these mountain
ridges. The Colorado River in these past ages
was a mighty stream, sweeping down debris
i'm tons every second of its flow. The Colora-
do sink was at that time great inland sea,
which spread over the country on both sides
Of where the river now runs. AS the erosion
Of winds and storms. l8ndslides and glaciers
wore down the mountain ridges year by yea,
the great river carried down vast amount
of SILT erosion from the rocks full of phos.
pilates, times and disfntergrated GRANTEES, as
well as the vegetation along It's banks; and
this was adj DEPOSITED in what are MOw the
sinks of the Colorado.
AS the mountain tops were worn DOWN, sbe
ssins became less frequent and less in TesaYse
but the erosion OF rocks aaG yiveT bsHEs, Sac
trees and vegetable noHld tom from tsDe
banks still came down and settled into the
bottom of tho great inland lake This geogical
process went on from age TO are TO orr time,
leaving the Colorado ut Yuma stream about
half mile wide and being at the present
time about twenty feet deep Ia the deepest
portion.
It is not necessary to remind Californians
that the Spanish missionaries and explorers
called this river the Colorado because OF the
reddish color Of its waters. 1t is the Colorado
up in the Grand Canyon in Arizona and
down past The Needles. But at this time of
the year. after passing the meath of the ella,
instead of the red river it becomes the brown
river. 1t actually looks today as if ten per
cent of its flow was silt and only ninety per
cent water.
RICHES OF SOIL WONDERFUL
But the object of this story is to call atten-
n.
sandth Time to the riches of the sold along
the Colorado on 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 ILL
xois has a>.onished people engaged in agri-
eulture for nearly one hundred years. The
sertility of the valleys of the Nile has been a
matter ofhfstory for at least 5000 years. Those
who are familinT with Illinois prairie soil,
and those who know what the valley of the
EIleis for agriculture. know that this lower
Colorado River region surpasses both of them
IL you ask farmer along this stretch of
eouIStFy if the soil is six feet, his eyes will
open with establishment All your ignorance
he will tell you no one knows whether it is
81 feet, zoe or $500 feet deep. 1t is practically
vithsoQt bottom. 1t is 50 thoroughly well
zsixeSa with sand, disinteGrated granite and
s4lseT rocks thsst it never breaks. 1t is as
easily worked as "A heap of ashes, and re-
spoaoas to eobsiEation in q way that is mar
ge5egs>
CUT SEW EN- CK0FS YEARLY
Arszens Ass established an experiment
station in the heart of this big valley, which
- sosse twenty-foar asiles long, and in spots
seR 10 twelve nsilss wide, down on the lower
ssyel. the results are wonderful last week
stPey were ctgtting crop OF sslfsia o1B this ex-
periIhenta farm, and for seven consecutive
months they will cut succeeding crops, The
sally months when the crop Is mot cut ISere are
December and January.
Cotton and tobacco grow with the GREATEST
buxuriance, and this rico anuvial soil will be
noted in a very few years as the ideal spot in
the whole country for dairying, hog raising,
she production of poultry and vegetables. which
one hcStateS to call early or late, as they will
be perennial. New potatoes will he produced
5n the middle of January, tomatoes will be
ripe 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
kens and turkeys flourish there in the winter
time beyond all experience anywhere else.
The rainfall is exceedingly light and comes
only three or four times in d whole winter.
With an abundance of green alfalfa and veget-
able the dry and not overheated climate
prevailing in the winter months, chickens are