Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-12-01
A Great Australian Enterprise.

years Will witness the development
OF the most remarkable system NJ
water-carrying in western Australia
that has ever been seen. The plan
is 10 repeat, again and again, the
successful engineering work that Is
now supplying the great gold mining
region of Coolgardie, far out in the
desert of the interior, with plenty of
water brought from the coast noun
tains, 325 miles away.
This western Australia desert con-
tains perhaps the largest waterlese
region In the world. When David
w. Carnegie made his second jour
ney across II several years ago he
traversed 500 miles without finding
anything that suggested a permanent
source of water. For many days he
saw nothing but prlckly spinifex COW
erlng the sand ridges.
But under these repellent sands
lie the great gold resources of west
ern Australia that are now supplying
more OF the metal every year than
all the rest OF the commonwealth.
When the rush of miners TO this
great thirst region began the eager
search and the frantic strife for
water was sometimes tragical.
The government sought for under
ground sources OF supply. but most
OF this water was found TO be 80 Inn
pregnated with salts that II was UNIT
for use. Engineers finally devised a
plan OF water delivery from the west
ern coast mountains. about twenty
miles TO the south of Perth, which In
volved the largest pumping scheme
that has yet been carried into opera
tion In any part of the world.
The works were completed only
two years ago, and they are attract
Ing all the more attention because
the population that Is paying ST.
100000 for them Is still quite small.
The amount OF rainfall In the basin
OF the Helena river. which flows
through the Canning hills south OF
Perth, is thirty inches year. II
was found that by dammlng this
river n supply OF water OF 5000, 900
gallons n day would be available for
transportation into the interior.
The problem was 10 transport this
water distance OF 500 miles. for
II was proposed 20 extend the aaue-
duct TO the Kalgoorlle diggings east
OF Coolgardie. and this has been done
Mundaring, the place where the Hell
ena river was damned, is only about
500 feet above the sea. but the sur
face of the desert TO which the water
was To be carried IL about 1859 feet
above sea level, 80 the water was not
only 10 be transported. but TO be lift
ed during the process about 1900
feet.
The water which collects back OF
the dam In the Helena river forms n
fine lake seven miles In length. The
big delivery pipe that carries the
water Is not buried In the soil. but
lies on the surface or In open
trenches, for there Is no danger of
freeEing.
There are eight pumping stations,
forty miles apart, and thus the water
Is kept moving up the long but very
gentle incline. IL finally reaches a
reservoir many miles west of Cool
gardie and from this point grayita-
tion takes II 20 the 4b.000 lnhabi-
tants OF the Coolgardie mining camps
and to the Kalgoorlie region beyond,
This water IL sold out there In the
desert at a comparatively small price
considering that interest must be
paid ON the money borrowed TO de-
velop the works. II sells FOR about
7b cents a thousand gallons aud Il
supplies not only these distant min
hig camps. but also some 20 or so
settlements on the way To them, and
small pipes carry water 20 stoekmen
or villages miles away from tho
main line.
Up Ia this time the consumers
have been able 70 obtain an the
water desired OF the vest best quail
~ and az an times OF the year,
stockmen along tho route who had
supplied their animals from scanty
wells that Nigh run dry az any time,
have lost their fear for the pipe
line Is am unfailing source OF good
fresh water at all .ime.-st Louis
Republican.