The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-08-03
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AUSTRALIANS RAILWAY. :

From the indianapolis News.

From the Indianapolis News.
In the near future, Australia expects
10 connect her eastern ard western
coasts by a modern transportation sys-
tenn, and thus aid greatly in the devel-
opment OF her almost unhabitated In
terror. The bulk Of population and OF
industrial and commercial activity In
Australia is on the coasts, especially
the eastern, western and southern sea-
boards. These sections have expert
enced great commercial expansion in
the last % years, but the interior, be-
cause Of its barrenness, scarcity OF
water and lack Of transportation facili-
ties, has gained little in population or
wealth. Australian pioneers and home
builders. who brave the rough life OF
the new county, go not to the west an
IN the early days in this country, but to
the center from any direction. The
link which will join. coastal points con-
meets the eastern and of the longest
railroad from the west, and the western
END OF the longest railroad from the
east When completed, 1t will be posi-
Die to travel from Perth the capital OF
western Australia, directly to Bris-
bane, Queensland's leading city, in the
northeast, passing through Adelaide,
Melbourne and Sydney. The route con-
meets the capitals of i've states and
covers a distance of 1000 miles. some-
20 San Francisco. When this line is
completed, it is planned to join the
north and south coasts with another
road. The difficulties encountered in
the building of the east to west link
were as great as those faced by the
pioneer roadbuilders in the United
states, although dissimilar in form.
There We're no great mountains and no
elevation higher than an aunt hill
meets the eve along the entire route.
But there was lack of water, which
presented serious problem. All water
mad to be carried on camels. This made
progress exceedingly slow A hot
summer dried Up the few sources of
supply, which could usually be de-
pended on, and water had TO be carried
from great distances over sand and
wastes. AT intervals, however, the road
builders sank wells, and in two places
water was found, once at Il depth Of /. :
500 feet, and in another place brack-
1sh water at 900 feet. Before the con-
struction men began work, it was not
thought that any certain water supply
existed along the entire route. and the
discovery of water has led to q move
ment toward the interior, which may in
time make that section a great pas.
toral country
There is much variation in track
widths in Australia, ranging from the
sections feet inches wide The new
desert road is standard guage. feet
SR inches, and all other roads in time
are expected to be this width. One G!
the monumental feats of engineers in
constructing the road was the buildtua
OF brige 5000 feet in length over he
dawkesbury river. This stream IS 10
feet deep and its bed is mud leo feet
deep, requiring, according to the Illus
trade World, the sinking of the deaDest
piers in the world. The United States
has direct interest In the building Of
this road and the development Of the
Australian interior. Australian butter
and eggs are already on the market in
the western states, and cheap land and
cheap transportation will have q ten
dency to lower prices. Transportation
in remote parts will undoubtedly aid in
developing the sheep breeding industry
and in lowering production costs by
which the consumer may eventually
benefit.