Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-09
AUSTRALIA HAS
MANY CHARMS
D. P. Mitchell Back After Long
Residence, Talks of Far
Away Country.
FUTURE MOST PROMISING
Where Farming Is Prosperous-The
Rabbit Pest, Referendum and
Other Phases.

D. P. Mitchell, who is largely inter
ested in various mines in Australia
and who married Miss Louise Dart Of
this city. in 1863 and is with his wife,
visiting AT the r. II. Dart home, 741
Twenty street talks entertain
ingly Of the far away country which
has been his home. Mr.. and Mrs
Mitchell have resided in Australia
since their marriage, and are awaiting
themselves Of one Of the few Oppor-
tunities 70 visit this country again
They are leaving in a few days for
the Pacific coast, after which they will
make their home in London.
Mr. Mitchell. who is a mining en-
gineer by profession. has been en-
gagged il mining operations in Austria
liza for the last "A years, and has ia
ken an active part in the mana cement
of one OF the various properties in
which ne is Interested. which include
gold mines in western Australia si.-
yer. lead ana zinc mines in Broken
Hills. New South Wales. and gold
mines in New Zealand Mr.. Mitchell
IS enthusiastic over the prospects Of
Australia becoming an even greater
country than it now il.
TALKS OF COUNTRY.
In speaking the various phases Of
the life and country, Mr. Mitchell
said, The most of the farming IS
done along the sea coast. where the
climate If very much similar TO that
Of California, and where there j. an
assured rain fall. a thing which does
not hold in other parts OF the Coun
try The soil is exceedingly rich here.
In other parts. the government is put
ting in irrigation bitches and dams.
and Is making a strong effort 10 get
this part settled mp. The land is sold
% settlers on very easy terms. OF
course Australia Is essentially a graz
ing country The large cities there
such as Melbourne, sydney. etc, are
Just as up to date as our Amer" ~
cities. They have their pavements,
electric lights. street cars, department
stores. and especially the nickel the
aires, which are many in number
Manufacturing is becoming more gen
eraI in the cities now than in the
past Removing the night letter. from
the field of consideration. the tele-
graph rates there are slightly cheaper
than in this country.
"A strange mode Of trans
portation rs used in conveying
freight inland, from points where the
railroads end. and that Is by means OF
camels. Long trains of them are used
for this purpose. wagons being i'm
practicable owing TO the unsettled
state OF the country. These animals
can carry from 400 10 GOO pounds Of
freight without the least trouble, do
not require much care, and are very
cheaply fed.
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP
The government owns the rail
roads, telegraph lines, etc. The rail
roads have Just as good equipment and
service as in America. although the
main requisite there is not so much
speed as safety. The Pullman com
pany made the first sleepers for the
railroads there. but now the sleepers.
diners. chair and observation cars. en-
zines. etc. are all made by the gov
ernment \ speed of 80 miles an hour,
including stops, for an express train.
= about the maximum.
The federal constitution pro
vides for a referendum. At a
recent election. a majority of par
lament were in favor Of amending the
constitution. and as a result, the mat
ter was put 20 q vote. in a special
election which by the way. defeated
the proposals. II is very rare in that
country TO see a dark skinned man