106 PRESIDENTS ADDRESS—SECTION E. 
with parties working west from Alexander Spring, and east- 
wards from either Weld Springs or some other known point 
farther south, this distance will be accomplished, and the water- 
shed of the Murchison River be attained from this point. I 
imagine no serious difficulty would be anticipated (I may here 
mention this journey was accomplished by Sir John Forrest in 
1875 with horses only). Such works as are now under con- 
sideration have been carried out in Egypt and in Abyssinia 
upon quite as large a scale, and with even smaller prospects of 
ultimate advantage, and in making use of any slender natural 
water supplies we have but to remember the w ater conserva- 
tion works that have been effected in Soudan and Algeria 
mainly from such slender sources. Quite apart from its value 
as a route for stock, it is perhaps worthy of consideration 
from a strategic point of view, for when we consider the pos- 
sibility of future European complications, and Australia being 
‘dentified therein, we have a vast extent of unprotected coast 
line, and a safely watered route for troops through the interior 
might secure many advantages. 
Again, such a provision of permanent or reliable waters 
would form a valuable base from which prospectors could 
radiate in their search for the mineral wealth of the interior. 
With mineral developments the present railway system of West 
Australia would be gradually extended, and eventually meet 
that of South Australia, which already extends northwards for 
600 miles. 
An alternative route presents itself that would, perhaps, be 
more advantageous to the North Queensland stockowners. By 
leaving the overland telegraph line in about south latitude 24 
deg. 18 min., and taking up a westerly course, the waters and 
well-grassed lands at the foot of the Krichauff and Gills Ranges: 
would be secured, but to avoid the arid and, so far as we know, 
waterless country that prevails to the west of Gills Range, and 
north and west of Lake Amadeus, a south-westezly course would 
have to be taken towards Ayers Rock and Mount Olga, thence: 
westerly along the Petermann and Rawlinson Ranges. 
The country along the slopes of these ranges is poor in com- 
parison to that found at the foot of the Musgrave and Mann 
Ranges. The distance from their western extremity to the 
Weld Spring is, perhaps, 350 miles, and is described as an ex- 
panse of spinifex sand hills and gravelly undulations, and so far 
as we know it is waterless, and may be considered almost im- 
practicable for stock, but by travelling southerly from any 
part of the Rawlinson the distance to the Cavenagh "Range could 
be accomplished without much difficulty ; but even these desert 
sandhills are not without their valuable treasures of water. 
Unfortunately they are difficult to find, and the traveller in 
doubt and anxiety as to where the next supply may be found, 
