Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-08-03
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
NOW IN SPOTLIGHT
Breaks With Commonwealth
by Two to One Vote.

Washington.-At the polls and at
her gold mines western Australians ac-
tiyities have drawn the spotlight of
news. With the defniteness of a two
to one referendum she has recently
proclaimed her secession from the
commonwealth, suggesting the first
break in the confederation of the six
Australian states that has existed for
80 years..
Although authorities maintain that
the action can have little effect, be-
cause there is no governmental ma
chinery allowing any state to with
draw, yet western Australia's protest
has been made. An outburst Of gold
fever, too, inspired by the present
high prices Of that metal, has awak-
ened new activity at her one-time
boom mines
"Western Australia, comprising ap-
proximately one-third Of the whole
island continent, has made rapid
strides in its century Of development"
says bulletin from the National Geo
graphic society. Especially during
the last half century, it has seen sig
nifcant progress, yet vast areas in
It's 975,920 square miles are desert
and waste land.
Had Boom Like California.
"Gold mining gave the land its first
boom. Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie, Kimber-
ley, and other gold fields poured mil
lions into the worlds Golfers. In 1903,
when 1t reached its highest point,
western Australia produced $43,O0O,O00
worth Of the precious metal In 81
years Of its greatest activity, it's
mines enriched the worlds gold sup
ply by $775,0O0,OOO
"Kalgoorlie, with its famous Gold
en- Mile and other nearby mines,
mushroomed almost over night into
roaring camp, and became much like
San Francisco in 81 or Dawson in
$50. Former President Hoover, as a
young mining engineer, once worked
in this rich mining district, and sue
cessfully put many sick mines into
profitable operation.
"As gold production waned, west
ern Australia, once known as the land
of sin, sun, and sand,' became a new
land of promise through its wheat
fields, forests, and cattle and sheep
grazing areas. Today, however, Kali
goorlie is again taking on many Of
the aspects Of rip-roaring mining
camp, and many of the 'swaggies' or
landowners are again plodding the
sun-parched regions to set out new
claims. A chemical syndicate is also
reworking to profit old tailings and
poorer dirts. 1t is doubtful, however,
that western Australia will ever again
produce the quantities Of gold that 1t
once did, yet some of the old pros
pectors are always hoping that they
will one day strike it rich.
Important Wheat Region.
I'm less than quarter century Of
agricultural development western Aus
tralia increased her export Of wheat
from $35 to $35, 100000. OF the slight
ly more than four and three-Quarter
million acres of land now under cul-
tivation, nearly four million acres are
devoted to the growing Of wheat, with
a recent yield Of more than 53.5OOOOO
bushels. .
"On more barren areas Craze more
than 9,SO0000 head Of sheep and $780,
GOO cattle The wool clip furnishes the
largest export next to gold and wheat.
The cities along the west coast
are not large. Perth, the capital, has
only little more than 100000 popula-
uon. Many of the others live only
by virtue Of their position as export
ing centers for the cattle and sheep
country. Broome, along the northern
part Of the coast, is one Of the most
interesting because of the fact that
II is one Of the few 'Asiatic' towns
IN the SO per cent British-born popu-
iation Of Australia. There live many
japanese, Chinese, Malays, Filipinos,
ana hoepangers from Timor, who are
engaged In the pearl and pearl shell
industry.
Western Australia may well feel
certain independence from the rest
OF Australia because she is more or
less isolated by great desert region
ooO miles wide and 1000 miles long.
AR services and the transcontinental
train system with its branches, how
ever DO link up many Of the towns
IN western Australia and bring them
INTO close communication with Can
Oerra' the new capital, and cities on
the eastern coast.
Despite the fact that the western
province does have much barren
waste land and in some cases has
nau to pump water through 35O-mile
lengths Of pipe line, it does hold
promise for great development In the
future for there are many areas still
unexpected. Also, with climate
ranging from tropical to temperate, a
lalrly wide range of products can be