Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-06-14

girt island Australia. For the last
quarter of century her history. her
resources and commercial peculiarities
have been almost Identical and coinci-
dent with those of California. The dis
covery of gold on the Pacific slope, and
the wonderful impulse which this dis
covery gave to the settlement and de-
velopment of our wealthy state, only
preceded similar events in the colony
of Victoria by about two years. The
average annual gold yield of Australia
was never in excess of that of Califor-
mia. For several years the annual pro
duct of the two great Ri Dorados Of the
world was notably about equal, ranging
from $4O,0OO,OOO to 100000. In
some respects the resources and indus
trial progress of the great island CONT
nent have been more rapidly develop
ed than with us, but in the great race
for commercial prosperity and suprem-
acy American enterprise and industry
In California have evolved a system of
civilization out of chaos which has no
parallel IN the history of nations.
sPRINGING FROM THE SAME RACE,
speaking the same language, and in
spired by the same progressive and CIV
liking influences, it is not strange that
the people of California and Australia
should hold sort of fraternal feeling
toward each other. In response to the
circular sent out two years ago by the
Department of State, inviting foreign
powers to join in friendly competition
at the Centennial Exhibition, the colo
NY of Victoria selected an efficient
board of commissioners, who were
charged with the duty of making ar
Engagements preliminary to a repre-
sentstion of the industries of the colony
at Philadelphia. It was decided that
an exhibition should be inaugurated at
Melbourne, where objects to be trans
mitted to Philadelphia might be COM
pared and the best of their kind select
ed by the commissioners. An invita-
ton was addressed to all the inter-colo-
NAL governors, asking their cooperation
in the Melbourne exhibition. New
South Wales, South Australia and Tas.
mania responded favorably, and were
represented. Buildings were erected
at Melbourne on most liberal scale,
and for more than two months were
kept open for daily visitors. The re-
suits were most gratifying and emil
nently successful. The impossibility
of conveying even faint idea of the
classified list of articles exhibited and
the widespread interest manifested in
this colonial fair may be realized when
it is known teat the official record and
reports bearing upon the subject make
q printed volume of over a thousand
pages. Quite naturally, the golden re-
sources of Victoria are made the sub
ject of detailed statistical report.
From this it appears that the area of
the
actually opened up in the colony is l.
O63 square miles, and the number of
distinct quartz reefs known to be aurif-
erors is 1889. During the past six
years there has been gradual increase
In the quantities of gold obtained from
vein quartz, but the money value of
the annual product is not stated.
There are now less than $4,000 miners
employed in Victoria, Of whom over
1900 are Chinese The fact is stated
that the number of men engaged in
ming is decreasing yearly, because Of
the great inducements held out for
other kinds of labor, especially farm
ing Many of the quartz veins are now
worked at great depths, but there are
no holes in the ground In Australia so
deep as the lower levels of the Com
stock lode in Nevada. The silver
product of Victoria is comparatively
nothing. The largest yield from any
one mine In 1874 was 276 ounces, rep
resenting a value of only ESQ. The
smelling of tin ore promises to become
q permanent soarce of wealth to the
colony. Already about 100000 have
been realized from the in mines, al
though not more than twenty licenses
have been issued for this mind Of
mining The quality of Australia tin
is claimed TO be superior to that of any
other region. Of the other metals
copper, iron, lead, etc.-the product is
IS yet insignificant. Coal does not
seem to be found in any desirable
quantity in Victoria, but diligent ex-
plorations are being made, and the in
dications are said to be encouraging
A few diamonds have been found, and
some of the other gem stones, such as
sapphires, rubies, topazes and garnets,
are occasionally encountered. But the
prosperity and permanent growth of
any country mainly depend upon its
agricultural and pastoral resources, and
all other industries must, sooner or
later, become subordinate to
THE TILLAGE OF THE SOIL.
In this direction the colony of Victo-
ria has made rapid strides during the
last twenty years. The amount of land
alienated from the crown down to with.
In the past year is given at 100000
acres, or more than one quarter of the
entire area of the public domain. OF
this amount over 100000 acres are
under tillage, the remainder being oc-
cupied for grazing purposes. The Col.
Onial Government has lately recognized
the advantages of the liberal land sys-
tenn prevailing in the United States,
and has enacted laws very much more
favorable to farmers and actual settlers
than those formerly existing During
the year 1875 the number of acres soWn
IN wh cat was $50 Q25 and tbo orod,, nj