The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-06-13

cult as 1t might be in the American
South If no black labor were avail
able. During the American Civil war,
when cotton was scarce in the world
markets and the price high, Queens
land found 1t profitable TO grow the
textile. After the price fell II was
even possible TO keep the industry
alive so long as Kanaka labor from
the South Sea islands was to be had
But when these black laborers were
deported cotton growing, never really
important. practically died out
There has been a certain parallellsm
in the development Of Australia and
North America A mountain range,
situated roughly Ike the Appalachians,
extends rzcstes With the eastern coast
from so TO 10 niles inland In this
favored strip Ire first settlements
were made. abj for many years
nothing was known about the region
to the west. Over behind its noun
tains Queensland has a great plains
region like that OF the United States
1t is in that portion Of Queensland
that Australia's great cattle industry
centers. The huge ranches-called
"stations"-cover thousands Of acres
like those in the American Southwest.
and of the 100000 cattle on the
continent about half are In Queens
land
Cattle raising is the really douii-
nant industry of Queensland and has
-, r., 81. 81 r.<
the governmental machinery. There
are state-operated cattle ranches.
state abattoirs and even retail meat
shops run by the state The state
goes still farther into the matter OF
food distribution by operating fisher
les and conducting retail fish stores.
State Owns Most of the Land.
The pioneer age is not past in
Queensland. despite its well developed
southern coast region. Over the noun
tains to the west and northwest in
the tropical country pioneers are still
carving out a new country and bring
ing ii under fence or pillow. The state
still owns staggering areas Of land
total area has been alienated or is in
process OF alienation And Queens
land means to hold on TO the greater
part of this public domain forever
The policy has been adopted in recent
years of merely leasing the soil The
only exception is in the case Of the
'.prickly pear regions, where small
tracts are given outright TO settlers in
return Of the eradication of this stub
born cactus pest
Brisbane. the capital of Queensland.
a town nearly as large as Atlanta. Ga.
is on the coast near the southern line
Of the state. and so Is in q region of
relatively mild climate. Its latitude
compares closely with that of Tampa.
Fla. Semi-tropical flowers and fruits
make possible charming settings But
Brisbane cannot claim beauty. Though !
this Is country in which white ants |
are numerous and destructive. wood /
seems to be the favorite building ma
terial. And many OF the smaller 1
buildings are rooted with unsIghtly !
corrugated iron. The river which /
runs through the city is lined with |
packing plants and factories.
How far Queensland has swung It's ]
governmental pendulum is shown BY /
the fact that il was one of the two /
states of the Australian common /
wealth in which the senate or upper /
house had members elected for life b, /
the British crown. There was thus in 4
existence sort OF colonial House Of /
Lords" The members of the single /
chamber which is left In Queensland 1
are elected and the state. without
balance-wheel," becomes !
the most democratic of the common
wealth's units.