The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23
A MOUNTAIN OF GOLD
1T EXISTS IN QUEENSLAND AND is
MAKING MEN RICH.
Mount Morgan, the Australian Edo
rado-HOw 1t Was Discovered and
Its Vast Wealth Developed.

Chamhers's Journal
In olden times IL was said that there were
seven wonders of the world"-the Pyra-
mids OF Egypt, the Hanging Gardens at
Babylon, the Colossus at Rhodes, and other
creations OF the genius and labor of man;
but. compared with these, the wonders Of
nature known at the present day are as
seventy times seven, and are found in
every part of this grand old earth. We
have read in fabulous story OF mountains
OF gold; but We supposed that such mira
eles Of nature existed only in the visions
Oh poets and romanticists. However, II is
known TO many that a veritable mountain
OF golden ore exists IN Queensland, the
sunny State OF the new Australian COM
monwealth. This mountain is now being
tunneled and leveled. and it's stone crushed
ana passed through chemical processes. In
one year over $4,000 ounces Of pure gold
were extracted; and the value of the mine
once rose in the share market to more than
seventeen millions sterling!
travelling in Central Queensland a few
months ago. curiosity induced us to visit
'hls mountain Of gold. which is situated
ABOUT twenty-five miles from the populous
CITY OF Rockhampton. The train by which
We made the journey runs some distance
through open forest country. timbered
mainly with bloodwOod, boxgums and iron
BARK trees. and up very steep ridge called
'he Razor Back 10 a range OF mountains
sTe'ehlng for miles from north TO south,
Nhere the air Is cool and pleasant after
s-'e neat and dust of the city. As this IA
nous mine is approached great activity is
hss 80 ousy and thriving township
tas arisen with its hotels. stores, hospital,
SHuIches, and School Of Arts; and though
soine OF the buildings are roughly con-
suucted, and IN the streets steep natural
senheis and blocks OF stone are likely TO
Lest the progress OF the unwary pedes-
Ian there is a buzz OF business and evil
..SenCsS or enterprise that augnr well for
- future prosperity and sha peiiness OF
:. mountain town. We hear the changing
- machinery. and occasionally the sullen
noom OF a blasting explosion; and the
i1oAe rom the furnaces and various pc
Sei.dt chemical odors make the atmosphere
4ess bflght and invigorating
~ Application at the Office, the manager
$50 gives permission 10 go over the
r ~ ana after change OF dress and
tega alasht OF half a crown TO a fund for the
t5eat OF the miners the visitors pro-
,eu WITH guide. who shows them the
hOCess from start 10 finish by which the
S--iInon looking stone quarried from this
" the nnest quality for the mint or the
jewelers. workshop.
WORKING THE MINE.
IN ths immense tunnels made in the
mountain. tier on tier, are men busily al
fA blasting and hewing the stone and
s'@dlng II on trucks. which convey ii to
ONeAets that are lowered down from one
b'suorm 10 another until the huge crush
.Hs machines arc reached: then the ore Ii
eairied forward 10y trucks and buckets 70
Tie furnaces where II Ia roasfad and made
porous for the HalI-Richard chlorination
Process. The ore Is now placed In large
S~fess and treated with chloride solution,