The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-11
COLONIAL PROGRESS.
Australian Federation and Rail.
way Extension.

William Fleming, a prominent railroad
man Of Sydney. New South Wales, is at the
Occidental, and is returning homeward
from an Eastern trip.
- have watched the Beagle incident, as
it is called. with a great deal of interest,""
he said last night. when Bloom and
Douglass. whose real names were Bell and
Davis. came to Sydney, they went into the
real estate business and at once embarked
IN wildcat schemes, and, to induce investors
10 place their capital with them, organized
several associations, guaTRn teelng to pay 10
per cent interest on all deposits.
Their downfall was looked upon only a.
E question of time, and the legitiT ate banks
never placed any confidence in their wild
operations When Bloom and Douglass
finally absconded, they took all of the de-
posts in sight and sailed for Honolulu.
The reason they escaped conviction when
on trial in the Hawaiian courts was be-
cause as | am informed. they bribed the
Australian detective, who was the complain
ing witness to leave the island.
LOOKING AFTER THEM.
The Australian authorities will never
lose sight Of tbem and whenever they can
be extradited they will be returned to Sgd
nev for trial. We have eXtredition trent
les with every country but those of South
America.
During the past twenty years Australia
has made wonderful progress in railway
extension. There are now about $500 miles
Of road operated OF being constructed in the
colonies. every rod of which is owned and
operated by the Government. line GOO
miles long, between Adelaide and Perth, is
almost completed. and another line from
Port Darwin 10 Adelaide. in South Austria
liza, will be 1000 miles in length.
The telegraph and telephone lines are
operated in connection with the railroads,
and the service is excellent The best grade
Of American Baldwin locomotives are in
Use. and vesubule Pullman cars of the latest
design have lately been introduced al
though sleepers have been run on through
trains for ten years. The coaches are on
the English plan usually. but the old style
is In disuse and the long American car is
used on all suburban trains.
RAILROAD RATES.
The rates compare favorably with those
OF this country, both freight and passenger.
Owing to the great cost OF construction the
tariff Is high al first. but as the receipts in
crease the tariff is diminished. and al pos
sible inducements are offered to the intend
ing settler.
sit is matter of regret in Australia that
San Francisco does not subsidize its mail
steamers, as Is the case with the English,
French and German transoceanic mail lines
There are i've English lines alone each
having steamers up to 5000 tons. running to
Australia, and these boats do an enormous
trade.
81 believe that the Australian Federation
viii soon be an accomplished fact. With
defeat and subsequent retirement OF Sir
Henry Parkes' government in New South
Wales. all OF the Australian colonies have
protective tariffs, and when a man travels
from Victoria TO Melbourne his baggage is
rigidly examined. Ii is expected that all
the local parliaments will declare In favor
OF federation this winter.
"A provisional constitution has been
drafted, embracing the best features of the
United States, Canada and England, with
local amendments. The federation viii re-
soluble that of the Dominion of Canada.
and we believe it will kill proyincialism,
foster commerce, give administrative econ
omy and encourage stional feeling"