Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-20
TUMUT.
New Metropolis Of the Commonwealth
Of Australia.

Of Australia.
From the New York Tribune.
So bitter has been the rivalry between
Melbourne and Sydney for recognition as
the metropolis of Australia. and as the seat
of the federal government and legislature.
that the leading statesmen of the antipodes
have finally come to the conclusion to turn
a deaf ear to the pretensions of these, the
two principal cities Of the continent, and to
establish a brand-new capital at Tumut,
now a small township. situated halfway
between Sydney and Melbourne. 1t is at
the present moment SO remote from the
outer world that 1t Is fully twenty miles
distant from the nearest line Of railroad,
with which 1t keeps in touch by means of
a daily coach service. But what 1t lacks
in prosperity and accessibility 1t makes up
in salubrity and in the picturesque beauty
Of it's surroundings.
The town as now constituted has a popu-
lation Of about 800. with four banks, four
churches. curiously placed. as II they were
the reflection OF the pointer stars Of the
Southern Cross few schools. q. lecture
hall and three inns. The principal build
ings are Of red brick. while the others are
of the weather-boarded. veranda fronted,
corrugated iron roof variety. as common in
the small western towns of this country
as in Australia. and are perched on the
the river Tumut. from which the town
takes it's name. and which. unlike most
Australian rivers. does not become infinites-
finally small during the hot weather, but
remains at the high water mark always,
thanks, perhaps. to the melting SHOWS of
the neighboring mountains. the Hottest of
which is Mount KOsciusko the eliminating
point of the entire continent.
This abundance OF water all the year
round. 80 rare in Australia. contributes
to render the town of Tumut and its vi.
cinity a perfect garden from January to
December. The river Is overhung by close
ly set willows. while the roads are bordered
by hedgerows OF sweet briar. intermingled
is the floral emblem of Australia Long
lines of poDlars are dwarfed here and
there by huge gum trees. while the valley
is green with Indian corn. Tumut maize
commanding the top prices in the markets
of Sydney and Melbourne. In fact the
vegetation of Tumut never becomes the
withered. bone dry spectacle. so familiar
during the heated season in other parts OF
Australia: and situated as 1t is in a shell
tered mountain valley. its climatic condi-
tons are those of q sanatorium as COM
pared with those of Sydney or Melbourne.
Indeed. it is difficult to conceive Of politi-
cal strife taking any acute form ct Tumut,
where the mountain air. cooled by the
be at hand to soothe the heated passions
and to calm the fevered brow Of the Aus
tralian LEGISLATORS.
Tumut has the rare advantage Of being
able to have its name spelled forward or
backward. according to the wishes of the
inhabitants. and. moreover. is aboriginally
and therefore Enthusiastically Australian.
1t is difficult to predict its future. Perhaps
it will be like Washington and Ottawa.
merely the center Of legislative functions,
the Headquarters Of the federal administra-
ton and the seat of the government. Pos
sibly. too. with increased traffic facilities,