Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-10-06

The lot of the policeman who patrols
4 bush territory is not happy one
Sometimes he Is the only visitor from
civilization whom the settlers see from
one years end 10 another The terrible
loneliness Of the bush cannot be fairly
imagined by those who have not lived
In it. In many places the trees are so
thick that those who live there seem 10
exist in country Of perpetual twilight
II is weird and uncanny and IL has
depressing effect upon the bush jewellers,
In striking contrast to those who dwell
In the mountains or in the plains in
perfect content, even though they have
few human associates. Insanity is in
creasing In Victoria as well as in other
states Of Australia. Medical authorities
say that as much as anything else the
horrible loneliness Of life In the unset
tied portions Of the country is respon-
sibIe.
OF the population Of Victoria tho
women exceed the men b. 10000, but
marriage seems to be going out os date
for every census reveals that the pro
portion of manageable females to that
of marriaEeable males Is increasing, nov
being 127 women to every 100 men
Students Of the question attempt to OK
of Woodworking farmers wife In n
thinly settled district is not calculated
to appeal to girl half as much as be-
Ing single In a city.
But depressing though the bush may
be, one who has seen an Australian for
est is not likely ever to forget it, par
ticularly Victorian forest of eucalyptus
trees. The eucalypts, or gums, as they
are popularity known, are Of many va
rieties, and the kinds that will grow in
one place will die In another, even though
1t be only few miles away. In Vic
toria alone there are sixty varieties Of
the tree and some grow as high as 300
feet. The eucalyptus replace rapidly and
grow about seven times as fast Ia oak or
hickory. Twenty Of the Vic orian gums
have commercial values the barks pro-
ducing tannin for tanning leather, while
eucalyptus oil is obtained from the gum
and leaves.
GUM TREE WOODS
WITHSTAND WEATHER.
Railroad sleepers, made of the blue
gum tree, have been known to last for
forty years; shingles made Of the pep
permint gum will withstand the elements
for almost as long. This is due largely
to the dry climate. Another tree which
10 VI great NdIue Is the lronbark, for it
will withstand fire better than iron,
which warps IN great heat.
Victoria has about 100000 acres Of
forest lanc under the control of a com
mission which was formed to prevent the
destruction Of woodlands threatening the
state. Three million acres Of state lands
are on the slopes of high mountain
ranges and are protected for the main
tenance of springs and streams In the
center Of the state large tracts which
have been cut over are closed now in
order that new timber will have chance
to grow; 4,0000 600 acres have been set
aside as reserves and for the production
Of timber; 100000 acres are being cut
over and the rest is in the eastern part
OF the state where transport is difficult
and will be held for the future.
IN spite of the fact that the state Ia
not thickly settled in many parts, Vic
toria maintains free schools In every
county. On a map at which was look
Ing the schoolhouses were marked with
red dots. AS revealing how thoroughly
the state has attempted to provide edu-
cation for its children. found in the
farthest northwest county a lonely red
dot where the Aate maintains school