The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-24


for II has everything in the way OF eli
mate and productiveness to make life
enjoyable and profitable, whilst almost
all that goes to make q country great and
prosperous remains yet to be done.
Shearing time on large sheep sta
ton is u very busy period. Men come
from all parts OF the country. A man
who cannot shear 100 sheep a day is
not thought much Of. The rate OF pay
ment is from 81 to 81 5s per hundred.
These men, as rule, are reckless, i'm
provident set, and at the end Of the sea-
son spend their hard-earned money in
continued carousing and drinking. At
these times the keepers OF drink-shan-
ties do thriving trade, far more 80, in
deed, than the quality OF their liquor
which is popularity known as "tangle-
foot"-entitles them TO expect.
In this country OF America, people
are pretty well accustomed to see and
do everything on gigantic scale. Ihave
often heard of the large grain farms OF
the Northwest, and the great stock
ranches OF Texas. But / doubt II these
can compare in point OF size with the
sheep and cattle Stations" OF Australia.
SOMETHING OF AN ORCHARD.
There is a story told OF an Englishman
travelling in Queensland, who one "snn
down" came up to homestead
Station" where le found all the hands
taking an affecting leave Of one OF their
number who was preparing to mount his
horse, equipped for lengthy journey.
as he going west?" queried the Eng
lishman Of his host.
no." replied the squatter, "only go.
ing across the orchard to feed the pigs"
This is perhaps calculated to convey
slightly exaggerated notion OF the size OF
Australian orchards.
Be that as it may, it is no uncommon
thing TO see stations" advertised for
sale, over "a 200 square miles," and |
krow some 1000 square miles gin ex-
tent. Many OF the large squatters pas
ture 100000 sheep, snd James Tyson,
who is reported to be the wealthiest
man south OF the equator, and who is
beyond doubt the most extensive land
owner in the world, is said to own $780,
900 head OF cattle and 10000 sheep.
Australia is Il country of extremely
wealthy men. The fortunes OF some OF
the cattle and wool kings are simply fab. |
ulous and rival, il not surpass, the
wealth OF Gould and Vanderbilt.
The popular idea OF Australia seems tn
be that it is half desert, inhabited by
n class OF people, half-miner half-bush-
ranger, OF the Jesse James type. There
prevails no more erroneous notion than
this. The shops OF Melbourne and Sid
ney vie with those Of London and Paris,
and there is an amount OF wealth, taste
and luxury displayed in both cities per-
fectly astounding, when one reflects
upon the comparatively recent develop.
ment OF the country. AS an instance Of
rapid growth, the city Of Melbourne is
perhaps without parallel.
OUR DANGER WITH PREI WOOL.
Fifty years ago, where the "Queen
City OF the South" now stands, there
YVES u wild and dismal swamp. In 1851
the town was simply collection ofrude
huts and "shanties" known as Canvas
town." Now it ranks us the sixth city
in the British Empire, with population
Of 400, 900, and its palatial public build
ings in magnifCenCe OF architecture and
grandeur OF proportion will compare fay
Orably with those OF any city in the
world. l could multiply instances OF
the wealth aud prosperity OF Australia,
and enlarge upon many points OF inter
est connected with the country. The
theme is one upon which, in my pat
riotic ardor, am apt to wax enthusiasts
tic, but 4 due regard for your valuable
space, upon which | fear | have already
encroached too much, urges me TO be
brief.
l cannot, however, help but say,.in
that should those OF your
tariff reiormers who seek to abolish the
INK on wool, succeed in accomplishing !
their design, the superior quality OF Aus
tralian wool for manufacturing purposes
must supplant American grown wool in
your markets aS it has already supplant-
ed the English wool in the markets OF
London. In the hope that what l have
written may be OF sufficient interest to
your readers to warrant its insertion in
your columns,
am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
MoNCHToN DEM.
Davis, W. Va, July 20.