Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-30
THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL
Tumut Not Yet Selected-Site Posses
ses Great Natural Advantages.

sydney Correspondence of the New York Times
Although 1t has been reported I'm Amer
.ca and Europe that Tumut has been Sc
lected as the site of the federal capital no
decision has yet been arrived at and prob
ably will not be reached until after the
approaching commonwealth elections by
reason of the numerous conflicting interests
involved.
When the federal constitution was in
process of being framed II was suggested
that the site of the capital should be de-
cided by popular vote, but G.. II. Reid and
other New South Wales delegates refused
TO entertain the proposal. as it would cause
Melbourne to be selected by an immense
majority in Victoria, South Australia,
Western Australia and Tasmania. On tho
other hand. the representatives of those
states were determined that the seat OF
government should not be in Sydney. Ulti-
mateIy compromise offered by Mr.. Reid
was accepted. to the effect that the federal
capital should be In New South Wales. but
not within radius of 100 miles of the state
metropolis. When the constitution was
adopted it was understood that the state
government would appoint a commission
to report on the most suitable localities and
then offer the same to the commonwealth
ministry for the purpose of making q Sc
lection. This was done. and after an eX-
animation of about forty proposed sites
Orange, in the western portion of the state,
Yass and Southern Monero were recon-
mended as the most suitable. Subsequent
ly other reports of descriptive character
and illustrated with photographs were
issued. but still no decision was made, the
state government insisting that the choice
rested with the federal government, while
the latter declared that the state govern
n,ent should make a preliminary offer
According to the commonwealth constt-
ft.tt tow ut t1A nf sInz 1.1a
ment was to be within New South Wales
territory granted to or acquired by the
commonwealth, such territory to consist OF
not less than 100 square miles. 1t was also
eracted that the commonwealth parlia-
ment should sit In Melbourne until 1t met
at the selected seat of the federal govern
ment. The latter stipulation has been at
the bottom of all the subsequent difficulty.
The Victorians, having secured Melbourne
as the headquarters of the commonwealth
government, have not been sparing in
energy or expense In endeayoring TO retain
the advantage thus afforded them. Hence
the delay in selecting site for the capital
The longer the commonwealth ministry and
parliament remained in the Victorian me-
tropolfs the more difficult would IL be to
induce them TO shift their quarters Under
the pressure of public opinion, however. the
federal government caused fresh Inquiries
to be made, with the result that Tumut not
the township. but the district, found
heading the list.
Inc site is certainty DeautlTul one. inc
area within a radius of twenty miles OF the
proposed capital is composed of 10000
acres of rich chocolate-colored volcanic soil
and 10000 acres of rich alluvial aats,
which have been cultivated for fifty years
with little or no deterioration, while the
more elevated portions consist of luxuriant
grazing country. Failure of crops is I'M
kr. own, even during the severest drought.
At Adelmy, five miles distant, are the
most extensive gold fields In the state.
Chrome. iron and copper abound. and silver
and tin are procurable in considerable
quantities. From a commercial point OF
view the district has much to recommend
it,. The suitability of its soil for the growth
of mailing barley and hops bespeaks for IL
great future in the production of ale.
beer and other liquors. and with the adj
vent of larger population maize, the princi-
pal local crop. would be converted into corn
hcur, maizens, maize meal. and probably
whisky. The unlimited supply Of fruit
insures the future wholesale production OF
jams, ETC., while honey, at present almost
waste product. would become CONNER
cially utilized The abundance of raw ma
terfal is favorable to the establishment OF
wooden mills, but and shoe factories,
tanneries and other Industrial works. The
climate is delightful and the water supply
plentiful and good.