Evening journal., 1903-06-11
GREAT DESERT REALLY
VAST TREASURE HOUSE
Mining Centre in Western
Australia One of Largest
Gold Producers

Western Australia is now ono of the
largest gold producers IN the world.
Twenty years ago the great desert east
Of the fringe Of fertile grain lands and
timber along the sea was not supposed
to be worth a. cent a square mile. The
desert was wholly unknown, except that
a few explorers had made their toll
some way over the immense expanse
of sand: few others less
fortunate had oerished In these forbid
ding wastes.
Then Il was found that this Sahara
was really to be the treasure house OF
the colony. The precious metal dug
out OF these sands has made the gold
product of Western Australia equal to
that OF all the other States in the COM
monwealth. Gold has helped this divi-
sion OF Australia TO become one OF the
lustiest members of the British colonial
empire
Around the great mining centre in
the desert $4,000 people are living. It's
natural to ask how they get water TO
supply their needs The fact Is, water
Is an extremely scarce commodity
there. IL probably does not bring so
high price in any other part Of the
world. salt water Is obtained with
out much difficulty by digging. but the
cost of condensing It TO procure fresh
water is SO costly that every pint must
be carefully used. There IS an occa-
sional shower, ana every house and
tent IN the mining district Is supplied
with tanks TO catch the rain water:
but Il rs an unreliable source Of sup
ply The result is that every drop OF
water must be husbanded.
We have no idea here where water
seems almost as free as air, how care
ful they are in the mining region OF
Western Australia to put every drop to
the best use. II Is not comfortable TO
be compelled to use water as though
you never expected TO have another
pailful. The Inconvenience and dis
comfort due to this cause are a terri
BILE drawback TO that region and
nothing less than the greed for gold
would induce any one TO submit to the
incessant deprivation.
Today Western Australia is hard at work
TO remedy this great need and TO supply
the Coolgardio and Kalgoorlle mining
Districts with a good supply OF water. The
total cost Of the work VIII be not less alan
Sl5,OOOOOO. but It will solve che water prob
lem.
About twenty-five miles northwest OF
Perth. near the sea and the capital OF
Western Australia. Is tho Green Mount
Range. The Helena river crosses this
range through "A deep valley. A dam 100
feet high has been built across the river
and the reservoir thus formed IS seven
miles In length and win hold 1900 200. 900
gallons. II Is necessary 10 llft the water
1900 feet to the top of the mountains In or
der 10 give Il sufficient headway 90 reach
the gold camp out In the desert. The dis
tance to kalgoorlie, the furtherest camp
TO be supplied. Is 32S miles The water Is to
be raised TO the mountain top by means OF
eight pumping stations, the machinery FOR
which has been purchased at a cost of 81, d
100000.
AT the summit of the mountains the pipe
limo begins. IL Is thirty inches In diameter
and is laid a ittle under the surface along
the railroad track, except that in crossing
various salt lakes on the route Il Is sup
ported on piers. II is hoped to deliver frum
the reservoir TO the mining camps 50O0.o 900
gallons OF fresh water daily. Even with
this amount OF waiter N is not expected
that the mining population Will have a
crop 70 waste. They will have TO pay a
good price for a.. The charge to the miners
for example, will be 81 so 10 81 rs per thous-
and gallons at wholesale rates. We should
probably have little street sprinkling. and
garden hose in the back yards Of Brooklyn
would become obsolete If we had to pay
so high price as this for the precious
fluid.
IL is not expected that the project viii
become self-supporting tor some time.
The plant is to be owned by the State. and
;he deficit must be paid out Of the general
taxes. Even if the $4,000 persons 10 be
supplied should require the works TO run
az their fullest capacity the pipe line would
hardly meet expenses.
1t Is believed, however. Hhat an Increased
production Of the gold Will be made pos
sible by good supply Of water ana that
the entire state viii thus be benefited. for
more miners will be required in the field
and practically all their supplies. except
machinery, come from the farmers and
merchants Of Western Australia.