The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-06-02


banded together against the world SO
far as their prosperity is concerned.
The new government has some won
derfully novel plans for the betterment
Of the people of the country. Under
these plans Australia will be pre-emi-
nently land for the workingman. Ac-
cording to the constitution of the co;,-
monwealth, parliament is given Fthe
right to pass laws for invalid aSA old
age pensions and to legislate yTin any
way that will develop a more and
more ideal social organization.
Furthermore, the government will
have control of the telegraph, tele-
phone and postal services. Talk of
governmental control of railroads is
heard on every side. The labor ques-
ton is not ignored, parliament being
given the right by the constitution to
pass Cancellation and arbitration meas
ures dealing with labor disputes. TAX
en- all mall, it may safely be said that
the workings of our legislative body
will be watched with interest by the
civilized world.
This city, which will be the capital
for at least year, is the finest in the
country, and Jealous patriots are try
ing to prove that it is the finest in the
world. In any event it is city with
a remarkable history.
In the year 1887 Melbourne consisted
Of FIVE small wooden houses and eight
huts Of turf. Now it has population
of 100000, 10000 business buildings,
500 schools, 300 churches, over 100
hotels or saloons and is one of the rich
est cities of its size on the earth. There
are men yet living who can look back
infancy and to whom the change must
seem nothing less than the work of
magic.
The site of the present city was
once owned by an individual, John
Batman by name, who bought it from
the natives by the payment of 40 pairs
of blankets. AZ tOmahawks and some
knives, scissors, shirts and looking
glasses If John Batman's heirs were
now in possession of it, they would
own ground worth in the neighborhoOd
OF $1O0.000.000. But even John Bat
man himself was not allowed to re-
main in undisputed possession. The
natives had been traf1cking with 9TH
ers, and there were many people who
contested Batman's claims.
In the end the governor came from
Sydney and laid out the town. selling
the lots at auction. These lots sold for
from $50 to $500 apiece. the land
that brought the latter sum now being
worth S15,0O00OO. The highest bid
ders that bright morning in 1887 laid
the foundations of fortunes. The auc-
tioneer took out his pay in land which
he lived to see worth 81, 100000.
Within five years the town had 5000
Inhabitants. and it was then incorpo-
rated Ten years later came the dis
covery of gold in Ballarat. and Mel
bourne grew by lea7s and bounds as
the gold fever took hold of the world
That, in brief. is the story of the birth
and development of this greatest of
Australian cities.
In everything Melbourne sets the
pace for the other cities of the fedora
ton. 1t has spent $1O,O0O,O0O for har-
Dor improvement. and that the money
has been wisely spent is evident to
any one who will take the trouble to
investigate. The city is at the bottom
OF eastern Australia. near the meuth of
| Yarra river. For six miles one can
walk along Melbourne's wharfs and
can count fully 40 bridges crossing the
Yarra and other streams in the city
and suburbs. The harbor is beyond
criticism. Steamers of 5000 tons bur
| den. drawing % feet of water, can