The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-03-21
FROM AUSTRALIA.
Elder JOHN p. Stevens Whites About
Conditions IN That Land.

Elder John p. Stevens Whites About
Conditions In That Land.
ADELAIDE, So. Australia, Feb. 10, 1902.
EDIroR TINES;
It is tome tine since wrote NV last
letter to your paper, and l will now en-
deavor 10 write a few lines for the benefit
olmy many friends and acquaintanees in
Summit county, who are interested in
my welfare and the cause represent
The country has changed somewhat
since | wrote you last, for then flowers
were in bloom and nature smiled but
the rays Of a tropical sun have changed
the landscape from beautiful green 10 a
dull gray, andnow nothing lie left to in
dictate the spots where nature was
dressed so beautifully; and looking in
either direction the eve can zee nothirs
only parched, withered vegetation waish
Locke extremely uninviting to the
weary traveller.
We have summer now and for days in
succession hot winds blow from the north
which reminds one Of the hot air from =
furnace. II lie nothing for the tbenom-
eter TO register ITO in the shade, and
this intense heat continues both night
aud day for weeks at time. The heat
has been 80 intsnss at different periods
that IL seemed 10 destroy the instinct Of
fear in wild animals and birds, and they
would permit anyone " capture them
and would seen oblivioEs Of their sur
roundings, apparently not knowing or
} caring what became Of them.
The curse Of this country lie its scarcity
oil water, andin many localities huge
eisterns and reservoirs are constructed u
o catch the rAin water. which IL pseaervsd
n "A shsmaanslAnd assz - oecasssn q
msnds. In many localities the peopl'
!, depend exclusively on rain water iol
domestic purposes. Rains. as aSule, arr
nOt very freqnent in summer, but IL
Water weare favored nearly every day
with shower.
The sheep owners have for severa
years had a very serious time of II.
!, am informed from reliable sources tha
they have baen compelled TO kill III,
anb to save the lives Of the cd one
for the water eupply has been 60 up.
certain that only liudted number coult
!, fnd sufficient water to tustain life. Thu
hundreds Of tbousandsoi sheep hare beer
killed each year, besides the many " hich
kave perished by thiFst.
The government owns the ra5iroAd
A here and transportation is muel
cheaper than IN America, but the car
are old fashioned, the seats are no
esSShioned aneAiter riding in the eoAohe
for eight or ten hours, one signs for on
, modern American cars.
It has been said by people in Amesie
that Australia was good place for poo
man, 10 fact ii has been said 1t wac 4
poor mans paradise. This is not tb,
case, aud iany one still believes ths
country is a good place TO gain liveli-
hood, all they neei is to come he-e and
get their eyesopened. am acquainted
with men who are elerking in stores 70
tl.50 per week. Five dollars lie consid-
cred good wages for an average week
work. There are hundreds OF homes
men out OF employment and times are
very dull. The crops Of the farmers 10
several years have been a total failure
and nov the government lie furnishing
seed wheat 10 the farmers for the coming
, year.
> We are making very good progress IL
! our WORK here, and have found the peo-
> pie saIule, very hospilable. The news
; papers have treated us very well, for they
have published several articles in de-
= Tense Of accusations brought against III
by our adversaries. We have large, At
tentive audiences at all Of our meetings
We also have many friends who are moi
afraid TO speak a word In defense Of uI
and our cause. We find that our great