The Florida star., 1901-06-07
THE NEW AUSTRALIA.
Continued from page 0.

fSydney and laid out the town. selling
the lots at auction. These lots sold fol-
from $3.50 TO $500 aplae. the land
that brought the latter sum cow being
worth $l5.0OO.0OO. The highest bid.
'ders that bright morning in 1897 laid
the foundations OF fortunes The auc-
itioneer took out his pay in land which
The lived to see worth 81 l.250.OOO.
Within five years the town had 5000
Inhabitants. and IL was then incOrpo-
rated. Ten years. later came the dis
icovery OF gold In Ballarat. and Mel
bourne grew by leaps and bounds as
the gold fever took hold OF the world.
That. In brief. is the story or the birth
and development or this greatest of
Australian cities.
In everything Melbourne sets the
pace for the other cities OF the fedora
ton. Ii has spent 100000 900 for har-
bOr Improvement. and that the money
has been wisely spent is evident TO
kny one who will take the trouble TO
investigate. The city is al the bottom
OF eastern Australia. near the mouth OF
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 23 feet OF water. can
come right into the city. while vessels
or 10000 tons and upward anchor at
the mouth of the river. a little below
Melbourne proper.
The traction system has cost the city
$S,000,000, the sewerage system 3d.
100000. the waterwOrks the same sum.
In the greater Melbourne there are 60
telegraph offices, 40 postoffices and 50
public and private Libraries. One OF
the public libraries has 100000 volumes
on its shelves, all OF which bears wit
ness 10 the progressiveness OF this an
tipodean city.
The public buildings OF Melbourne
are magnificent. The Victorian parIia-
ment building Is a fine structure of
light gray stone. One has TO go up al
most as many steps TO reach the front
door as at the capitol i'm Washington.
This building will not be the meeting
place or the federal parliament. for one
OF the questions yet to be- decided is
the selection of site for the federal
capital. IL is almost certain that Ow-
ing TO the jealousy between Sydney
and Melbourne. neither OF these cities
will be chosen. but probably some place
between the two.
AS the capital OF Victoria Melbourne
has not only the city buildings. but the
great colonial offices. These cost all
told S2OOOO.OOO. The town hall was
erected at an expenditure or s. .OOO.-
600. Ii stands in the very heart Of the
city and is built OF white frpestOne,
with a foundation OF bluestOne Be
sides being the home of the mayor and
civic officials. 1t is a great place of Ell
tertainment, seating 100 people. In
the large hall is an organ. which was
until recently the biggest in the world
and the city pays an Organist a salary
just 10 play il twice Il week for the
amusement OF the people.
And this brings me TO the considera
ton OF the dwellers in the gates OF
Melbourne. They know how to live.
They are not wrapped up in business
cares, but have an eye TO pleasure as
well as TO fortune building. In and
around Melbourne are 1000 acres OF
race tracks, - football and cricket
grounds. 100 parks and public gar
dens. or course the great sport OF the
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