The herald., 1897-07-07
AAJ D1 A~1A A0AA AAA
One of the Founders of
Ontario
GEORGE CHAFFEY RETURNS
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF
AUSTRALIA
GEORGE CHAFFEY RETURNS
Result of the Panic of 1S92-A Three
Years. Drought-Califor-
mia Wheat

system of Los Angeles, returned to this
with his wife.
In 1882 Chaffey Brothers laid out and
established the Etiwanda colony in San
Bernardino county, and in 1888 they
founded Ontario, laid out the celebrated
Euclid avenue, established the Chaffey
College of Agriculture, and in so doing
erected a monument to their enterprise
and business capacity that will endure
for all time.
In 1886 the Chaffey Brothers disposed
of their interests in Southern California
and went to Australia where the Vic
toria government made them liberal
offer to esta blish two irrigation colonies
on the Murray river. This offer was TO
the effect that Chaffey Brothers could
purchase 100000 acres of land for the
sum of 500 an acre, and that all the mon
eys spent in improving said lands, either
by themselves or their assigns should be
credited to them on their purchase price.
On this basis the town and settlement
of Mildura was established and 10000
acres of land was sold at an average
price of about $100 a n acre. The system
of water works established to irrigate
this land and the Improvements put on
the land was sufficient to entitle them
to deed from the government to about
&C, 900 acres, one-third of which was
sold The Mildura settlement today
numbers about 5000 people and the finest
oranges and lemons in Australia are
grown in this settlement. AS evidence
It, Co ha
ment held a citrus fair at Mildura to
which al, parts of the country sent cit
rus fruits for competition, and although
all the judges were from outside locali-
ties Mildura took all the premiums. One
year ago second citrus fair was held
at Melbourne, and Mildura sent its fruits
to this fair and again took all the prem
iums, other sections declining to COM
pete.
The history of the financial panic which
struck Australia in 1892 is still fresh in
the public mind. The heaviest banks
of that country suspended and millions
were lost in the cyclone. Most of these
banks resumed payments again, only
half dozen or so falling to open up.
While stockholders in the banks lost
heavily depostors lost but very little
Many stockholders were una BILE to come
up with the necessary money to save
their stocks and thus they lost all, while
others made payments upon stock which
is not today worth as much as it cost
to save it, but the payments had to be
made
Prices of real estate went down until
it seemed as though bottom would never
be reached, and fine properties could
not be sold a any price to save their
owners from ruin.
1t is said that it never rains but it
pours. The financial panic was not
enough chastisement for the people of
that country but for the past three years
there has been drought. Australia ex-
ported 100000 tons of wheat per annum
but in consequence of the dry seasons
that country is importing wheat from
California to feed her own people. Aus
tralia exported from $3.50 200, 900 to $780,
100000 worth of wool annually but at
the present time over half of the sheep
have died of starvation
| This is the rainy season in Australia
or rather the end of the rainy season and
1t has been another dry one.
The fruit interests of that country are
manner. On account of failures of fruit
in Southern Asia and Europe, prices of
the Australian crops have been good
1t is not uncommon for the vineyardist
there to clear from $500 to $500 an acre
from his Sultana grapes and some other
varieties of fruits are very profitable.
Mr.. Chaffey was questioned by Her.
aid representative, relative to the gov
ernment ownership of railroads, and in
reply he stated that it was not satisfac-
tory. The railroads were not run as
! economically as they would be by pri-
vate corporations. That under the laws
of Australia no private company could
own and operate railroad; therefore
the government had a monopoly of the
business; freights and fares were high
er there than in the United States For
instance, the distance from Adelaide to
Melbourne is about the same that it was
from Los Angeles to San Francisco, ana
yet, while the fare from Los Angeles to
San Francisco was only SIS, the fare
from Adelaide to Melbourne was over
$19. Fares and freight were about 20
per cent higher there than here
AS regards labor agitation, Mr.. Chat
fey stated that the labor organizations
of that country had absolute control OF
the country, and that capital was very
chary about taking hold there at pres
ent to put the country in business shape
again, although he thought that the
final result would be medium ground
that would be satisfactory to both ele-
ments.
Civil service was in force in all de.
partments Of the government, including
the operations of the railroad. Public
servants did just what the law required
and they could not be induced to go out
side of that routine on the most trivia
affairs. When a person in the publ,
service became IS years of age he mus
retire on pension whether he desired t
do so or not.
The courts are clean and justice il
meted out promptly to all alike, whether
rich or poor, and there is none of th'
laws delays found in the United States
|