The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-29
4 RAILROAD IN 4 DESERT.
Gold Expected to Make South Australia's
Transcontlnental line Pay.

Transcontlnental Line Pay.
THE Sun printed, some time ago. a mar
showing the proposed routes OF two rail.
road lines across Australia from north
to south. As was subsequently announced
the Government Of South Australia has
advertised for tenders for the construction
and working OF one OF these lines.
1t is the shorter and more western
Of the proposed routes and Is to ex-
tend through the domain OF South Aus
tralia from Port Augusta on Spencer Gulf
to Port Darwin. the best harbor on the
north coast. Adelaide. the capital and
chief port OF South Australia, will then
he connected with Port Darwin by a con-
tinuous rail route 800 miles in length.
For about one-third OF this distance
the road will utilize existing tracks. A
railroad is already in operation between
Adelaide. Port Augusta and the little town
Of Oodnadatta over 500 miles northwest
Of Adelaide. and another road extends
las miles from Port Darwin to the south
east to Pine Creek, in the heart of the mining
region of the north.
Between these two points is a gap Of
about i,2OO miles, the interior dry lands,
colored yellow on one OF the best recent
maps Of the continent to indicate that sand
prevails. 1t is the heart OF the great Aus
tralian desert and IL Is now to be crossed
by iron rails. AL the new track will be in
this desert.
II may seem strange to those who have
not kept pace with Australian progress
that any special value should he placed
upon these lands. where scarcely five inches
Of rain falls In a year, scarcely one-fourth
Of the quantity that Is required for pr oflta-
abe agriculture. The fact IL, however,
that the Government believes IL can make
these thirst lands pay for the building and
equipment Of the railroad
IL desires to have the road built as a
private Enterprise. IL does not proI-ose
% put any Of the public funds into It's con-
1t is willing 10 give millions OF
icres OF deser TO the company that will
build and operate the road and that In all.
The Government advertisement stipu-
ates that the project shall he carried out
IN the land-graut system. IL says that the
ana 10 be granted shal not exceed 75,COO
ceres tor each mile Of road and that il shail
" selected in alternate blocks on either
ide OF the line. The grant Is TO be In fee
imp!e with all the gold aud other mineral
hefeon or Hereunder. The line In 20 have
gauge Of feet Q inches.
ihe heart Of this proposition Is found In
he words gold and other minerals. Gold
tpeic, ard no mistake.
Nobody knows how widely gold 10 scat |
cred through the sands OF the Australian /
es.rt. but various explorers have found |
races OF II here and there Throughout the |
p'at waste. The latest to report gold In !
here still utterly uninhalJited regions are |
iaurioe and Murray. who last year crossed !
australia from south TO north just a little 4
hey were not looking for gold. hut Ia their
rport Just published they tell Of aurifeIo Gus
utcroIs among the desert hills
kveiyiody who h interested in god min
" knows that the western extension Of
iis de-eIt, Ia the state ~ Western Aus
ala. hss for some yeats befn turning out
lore gold than all the ret II the Contlnent
,g'tler and that II IL ole ~ the largest
old producers In The word u has far
irrsss~d the te.ds ~ Victoria. whlch made
ustraiia famous aud brought 10 II an
my II foItun. bunters
'iribl. sAsl.s iessuse they oouid fna
D water No f.gion had q more evil rspu-
tion, and q IVES suTpossd Ia 10 ons ~ ils
"st s"iihlses Iasits e tho sorid. lien
is-, u's treasure these dsssft ssnas
,nns alsd sas ifousia 90 hsia
j. lay mlqinT Tampa Aft f0aiiefed up
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