Our First Half-Century Part 28

AGRICULTURE.

-----------------------+---------------------------------------------------- CALENDAR YEAR.

+-------+--------+------------+-----------+---------- 1860. 1872. 1884. 1896. 1908.

-----------------------+-------+--------+------------+-----------+---------- Total Area Cropped Acres 3,838 62,491 187,381 322,678 535,900 Wheat, Area for Grain Acres 196 3,661 11,389 34,670 80,898 " Result of Crop Bushels ... 78,734 195,727 601,254 1,202,799 Maize, Area for Grain Acres 1,526 21,143 61,064 115,715 127,655 " Result of Crop Bushels ... ... 1,312,939 3,065,333 2,767,600 English Potatoes, area Acres 333 2,837 3,775 7,672 6,227 " Result of Crop Tons ... ... 6,834 18,451 11,550 Sugar-cane, Area Cut Acres ... 5,018 29,930 66,640 92,219 " Result of Crop, Cane Tons ... ... ... ... 1,433,315 " Result of Crop, Sugar Made Tons ... 6,266 33,361 100,774 151,098 -----------------------+-------+--------+------------+-----------+----------

MINING.

-------------------+----------------------------------------------------- CALENDAR YEAR.

+--------+---------+-----------+-----------+---------- 1860. 1872. 1884. 1896. 1908.

-------------------+--------+---------+-----------+-----------+---------- Gold raised in Queensland Oz. 2,738 124,163 250,127 502,146 465,085 11,631 537,365 1,062,471 2,132,979 1,975,554 Silver raised in Queensland 35,327 32,162 117,889 Copper raised in Queensland Tons 1 2,448 1,653 580 14,698 50 196,000 30,872 21,042 882,901 Tin raised in Queensland Tons 1,407 3,383 1,554 4,826 109,816 130,460 49,018 342,191 Coal raised in Queensland Tons 12,327 27,727 120,727 371,390 696,332 9,244 16,120 60,025 154,987 244,922 All other in Queensland 6,469 30,440 281,030 Total 20,925 849,301 1,325,624 2,420,628 3,844,487 -------------------+--------+---------+-----------+-----------+----------

SECONDARY PRODUCTION.

------------------------------------------------------------------------- CALENDAR YEAR.

-----------------+-------+---------+-----------+------------+------------ 1860. 1872. 1884. 1906. 1908.

-----------------+-------+---------+-----------+------------+------------ FACTORIES No. 13 593 955 1,332 1,481 Hands Employed No. 19,733 29,510 Plant and Machinery 6,145,548 4,484,340 Output 6,482,824 11,242,437 Leather Lb. 427,168 2,221,856 3,324,832 (c)152,611 b.u.t.ter Lb. 6,164,240 23,838,357 Cheese Lb. 1,921,404 3,199,510 Bacon and Hams Lb. 5,108,726 11,324,323 Meat, Cured Lb. 4,283,024 69,442,447 50,418,522 Timber, Sawn Super. Ft. 22,309,900 100,759,016 -----------------+-------+---------+-----------+------------+------------ [Footnote c: Now collected on sides.]

IMPORTS.

---------------------+----------------------------------------------------- CALENDAR YEAR.

+---------+----------+----------+-----------+--------- 1860. 1872. 1884. 1896. 1908.

---------------------+---------+----------+----------+-----------+--------- Apparel, including Boots and Shoes 32,701 113,371 318,910 232,077 552,071 Linen, Drapery, and Haberdashery 154,454 293,155 742,357 806,638 1,233,776 Wine, Beer, and Spirits 66,909 177,601 394,764 247,259 325,484 Tobacco, Cigar, &c. 17,727 30,659 78,093 74,501 204,131 Wheat, Flour, Biscuits, &c. 95,318 208,447 383,504 555,460 483,794 Other Grain and Products thereof 4,867 42,991 197,929 118,968 202,549 Potatoes and Onions 3,410 15,789 77,897 104,233 147,584 Green Fruit, Jams, and Jellies 3,487 27,755 118,309 73,184 175,967 Hardware, Machinery, Metals, and Metal Goods 63,622 217,659 1,019,374 766,217 1,661,999 Stationery, Books, Paper, &c. 16,482 26,528 148,682 135,127 220,746 Kerosene and other Oils 3,916 32,580 69,202 94,048 156,460 Total all imports 742,023 2,218,717 6,381,976 5,433,271 9,471,166 ---------------------+---------+----------+----------+-----------+---------

EXPORTS--HOME PRODUCTION.

----------------------+------------------------------------------------------- CALENDAR YEAR.

+-----------+----------+----------+----------+---------- 1860. 1872. 1884. 1896. 1908.

----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+---------- Wool--Clean Lb. }5,007,167{ 12,622,067 9,030,701 24,479,769 23,459,014 Greasy Lb. } { 5,171,245 26,495,276 64,012,465 66,802,873 Clean } 444,188{ 952,450 682,774 1,130,170 1,670,664 Greasy } { 217,362 1,206,730 1,846,814 2,459,190 Total Value 444,188 1,169,812 1,889,504 2,976,984 4,129,854 Tallow--Quant.i.ty Tons 640 2,890 2,623 18,554 7,292 Value 25,628 100,201 76,019 337,967 197,229 Gold--Value 14,565 660,396 923,010 2,089,166 1,941,229 Copper--Value 50 257,723 3,014 32,401 831,699 Tin--Value ... 108,310 228,457 46,779 290,389 Live Stock (Horses, Cattle, Sheep) 510 366,003 572,010 859,367 1,699,381 Meat (all kinds, including extract) 5,356 67,579 70,833 898,545 850,772 Sugar--Quant.i.ty Cwt. ... 23,959 368,626 1,507,503 2,645,333 Value ... 36,833 454,759 863,080 1,482,320 Hides and Skins 14,030 93,218 109,291 449,265 421,987 Pearlsh.e.l.l ... ... 94,021 94,865 49,898 +-----------+----------+----------+----------+---------- Total all Exports 523,477 2,998,934 4,673,864 9,163,726 14,194,977 ----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+----------

[Ill.u.s.tration: FALLS NEAR KILLARNEY]

[Ill.u.s.tration: ABORIGINAL TREE CLIMBERS]

INTERCOMMUNICATION.

-----------------+--------------------------------------------------------- CALENDAR YEAR.

+--------+-----------+-----------+------------+----------- 1860. 1872. 1884. 1896. 1908.

-----------------+--------+-----------+-----------+------------+----------- RAILWAYS-- Miles Open ... 218 1,207 2,430 3,498 Pa.s.sengers No. ... 40,539 1,025,552 2,462,020 6,538,411 Cost of Construction ... 2,345,385 8,631,835 17,248,678 23,102,158 Net Revenue ... 18,213 273,096 424,862 806,797 SHIPPING-- Inward Vessels No. 210 522 1,042 649 881 Tonnage 45,736 148,630 572,124 562,759 1,601,107 Outward Vessels No. 183 507 1,061 645 847 Tonnage 39,503 143,380 579,988 531,289 1,563,911 -----------------+--------+-----------+-----------+------------+-----------

CHARITABLE INSt.i.tUTIONS, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

--------------------------+--------------------------------------------- CALENDAR YEAR.

+-------+--------+--------+---------+--------- 1860. 1872. 1884. 1896. 1908.

--------------------------+-------+--------+--------+---------+--------- CHARITABLE INSt.i.tUTIONS-- Number 6 21 46 77 107 Persons Relieved 397 2,796 11,614 19,917 28,310 EDUCATION-- Number of Schools 41 210 528 957 1,104 Scholars on Rolls 1,890 23,728 60,701 103,733 105,436 Average Attendance ... ... ... ... 67,309 PUBLIC LIBRARIES-- Number of Subscribers 538 1,711 5,185 6,904 12,770 Volumes in Libraries 4,945 20,890 60,257 129,883 249,257 --------------------------+-------+--------+--------+---------+---------

APPENDIX H.

DIGEST OF HYDRAULIC ENGINEER'S REPORTS.

OUR ARTESIAN WATER SYSTEM.

The water supply problem is of importance so momentous, and the official information collected by the Hydraulic Engineer being scattered through reports covering about twenty-five years--from 1883 until 1908--it is thought desirable to present the main official facts in a convenient digest for the general reader.

SUB-ARTESIAN WATER IN 1884.

Up to 1883, when the McIlwraith Government created the Hydraulic Engineer's Department by appointing Mr. J. B. Henderson to organise it, little had been done by the State for the improvement of the water supply of the country except in cities and towns. At that time no artesian water was known to exist in Queensland, but there was a popular belief that there were great underground supplies, especially in Western Queensland. Many station-owners had been active, and the diamond drill had been brought into use, but deep drilling had not then been undertaken. In October, 1884, the Hydraulic Engineer reported that he had just visited Widgeegoara Station, where the owners, Messrs. E. and J. Bignell, partly by sinking shafts and partly by boring, had obtained an underground pumped supply aggregating 94,000 gallons every twenty-four hours. This resulted from sinking four 5 ft. 2 ft. shafts an average depth of 102 ft. each, and thence boring and tubing below the bottom of each shaft to the average depth of 161 ft. Of the total quant.i.ty 20,000 gallons a day was obtained from the Four-mile well, a shaft sunk to a depth of 150 ft.

below the natural surface. Besides this there was a homestead well 33 ft. deep. a.n.a.lyses of the water showed that, in the opinion of the Government a.n.a.lyst, only in one bore was it useful for watering sheep, it being brackish; but according to the station reports the supply from the Four-mile well and Nos. 1 and 2 shaft-bores was good stock water. Mr. Henderson warmly commended the Messrs. Bignell's enterprise.

IMPROVED BORING MACHINERY.

During the same month the late Hon. George King, of Gowrie, brought under the notice of the department a report by Mr. Darley, C.E., to the Government of New South Wales respecting certain American well-boring machinery by the use of which in Mr. King's opinion three-fourths of the cost of 6,000 incurred by his firm in sinking shafts in the Warrego district might have been saved. Besides which much greater depths could be reached, a machine costing 600 in America being capable of boring 2,000 ft. The matter being referred to the Hydraulic Engineer, that officer made inquiries which induced him heartily to endorse Mr. King's suggestion that the Government should secure from America a machine with two men experienced in working it and capable of themselves making any ordinary repairs. Mr. Henderson also recommended that a staff should be trained by the Americans after arrival, and expressed the opinion that this course would save both money and time, and prove a large gain to the colony. But he reminded the Minister that until there had been an abundant rainfall extensive operations in bore-sinking in the West could not be carried on, though he advised the introduction of a sufficient number of machines and enough tubing in order that during the next season, if rain fell, work should be vigorously commenced.

On 4th September, 1885, the Hydraulic Engineer replied in unequivocal terms to a minute of his Minister requesting him to comply with the wish expressed that he should purchase a Victorian diamond drill, then under offer, for coal-prospecting purposes. Mr. Henderson strongly recommended that no drill be purchased unless capable of boring holes at least from 5 in. to 2 in. in diameter. He also pointed out that where drifts and loose gravels were met with, and tubed, a deep bore must be commenced of large diameter to ensure success. Although the proposed drills were not ostensibly to be used for water-finding, it is evident that the Hydraulic Engineer, in reporting upon them, had that kind of work in view.

GOVERNMENT URGED TO IMPORT PLANT AND MEN.

On 2nd December following the Hydraulic Engineer addressed the Minister touching water-boring operations, and pointed out that, while there would be no difficulty in importing the machinery and appliances requisite for deep bores, he was convinced that men must be introduced from America to start and teach others here to work them. He recommended that an efficient plant should be ordered capable of boring up to 12 in. in diameter to a depth of 2,500 ft., for (say) 1,000, delivery at the works, and four good drillers under a two years' engagement brought out to work them at 21s. to 23s. per day, apparently of twelve hours; board, lodging, and travelling expenses to be defrayed by the Government.

OBSTACLES FROM DROUGHT.

On 20th February, 1886, the Hydraulic Engineer wrote that, understanding from conversations with the Minister that "the policy of the Government is to carry on water conservation works and boring for underground water with increased energy, he recommends the purchase of three Wright and Edwards' boring machines, capable of reaching a depth of 1,000 ft., for delivery within four months from the date of order."

Three days later Mr. Henderson wrote:--"Unfortunately it can be said with much truth that, ever since the department's existence, the seasons have been unfavourable in the extreme for carrying out its plans." After mentioning the specific difficulties encountered, he added:--"I do not share in the idea that the late rains broke up the drought, as I cannot disguise from myself the fact that they have not been general, or even yet of sufficient quant.i.ty."

FIRST BORING STARTED AT BLACKALL.

Although the Hydraulic Engineer, so long before as December, 1884, had recommended the Minister to import American boring machinery with men trained to work it, it was not until 19th October, 1886, nearly two years later, that he was able to announce that his advice had been so far followed that Mr. Arnold, an American borer from Honolulu, had gone to Blackall with a Pennsylvania Walking Beam Oil Rig boring machine which had been constructed in Brisbane. It seems that so long previously as July, 1885, two tenders for boring by Americans--one being from Mr. Arnold--were submitted by the Hydraulic Engineer to the Minister, with the intimation that they were both too vague for acceptance, and expressing the hope that Mr. Arnold, "who seemed a man of considerable experience, would submit a more liberal and definite offer." The same report mentions that on the 30th June previously the Blackall bore had been carried to a depth of 775 ft., and that at 127 ft. good water had been struck that rose to a height of 60 ft. below the surface, but was deemed insufficient for the requirements of the town. Up to that time nine bores had been completed, chiefly by the ineffective Tiffin auger, but not one had reached artesian water, the deepest being that at Blackall, and the average depth 371 ft.

ARTESIAN WATER STRUCK AT THURULGOONA.

In his report of 12th November, 1887, the Hydraulic Engineer states that it is essential that only the best quality of tubing, or "casing," should be used in bores. In April he had visited, by direction of the Treasurer, Thurulgoona Station, on the New South Wales border, and there carefully inspected boring operations. He found that one bore had, by means of the Canadian Pole Tool boring machine, been sunk to 1,079 ft., a supply of excellent water having been struck at a depth of 1,009 ft., "the water overflowing in my presence to a height of about 20 in. above the surface of the ground."

This was apparently the first artesian water Mr. Henderson had seen in Queensland, though he had years previously seen the artesian well at Sale, in Victoria; and he naturally p.r.o.nounced the opinion that the result at Thurulgoona was "very satisfactory." During this year boring had been carried on in Queensland without success so far as the formation of flowing wells was concerned. Mr. Arnold, having sunk to 1,039 ft. at Blackall, resigned, but it was decided to continue sinking, all the tubing being recovered with the exception of a few feet, and being capable of use several times over if need be. During this year also tenders had been received from Mr. Loughead, of Thurulgoona, to put down three bores of 2,500 ft. in Queensland, and Mr. Henderson reported that there was every prospect of a tender being received from a company recently formed in Brisbane at a slightly lower price than Mr. Loughead had named.