144 SECTIONAL ADDRESSES. - 
works have been closed ; the population has fallenin numbers ; and mining 
production has become insignificant. The present state of the Territory 
has been adduced as evidence of the futility of trying to develop a tropical 
land by white labour. Its failure was not, however, due to the White 
Australia policy, which was introduced after the failure was complete, 
but to geographical disadvantages not yet surmounted. The Territory, 
before 1901, was open to Asiatic immigration, but the hope that it would 
be adequately peopled from Asia was not fulfilled. Its population was 
largest in 1888, and then it was only 7,533. The Chinese were most 
numerous during the construction of the Pine Creek Railway in 1887-8 ; 
their numbers were 4,141 in 1890, and fell to 2,928 in 1900, and to 1,387 
in 1910. High expectations had been formed of the Northern Territory 
from its tropical position, and it was hoped to become an Eldorado as an 
Australian Java. It was fondly called ‘the Land of the Dawning,’ and 
described as containing limitless areas of, for some purposes, the best land 
in the world. Searcy, for example, declared that it includes ‘ land equal 
in size to the islands of Java and Madura, suitable for any sort of tropical 
agriculture.’ 
Careful comparison with Java would, however, have served as a 
warning that easy prosperity was impossible. Java has been a densely- 
peopled, highly-cultivated island, with an advanced indigenous civilization 
since prehistoric times. The Northern Territory of Australia has been 
throughout the same period practically an unoccupied deserted waste. 
Java has rich widespread soils and a convenient rainfall. The Northern 
Territory has in the main poor soils, and its rain all falls during five, and 
most of it during three months, leaving the land parched and scorched for 
seven months every year. The water from the wells is alkaline and the 
supply too small for extensive irrigation, while land irrigated with it is 
soon rendered sterile. 
Poorness of soil, unsuitable distribution of rainfall, and inaccessibility 
of position explain the backwardness of the Northern Territory. Dr. 
Jensen, the former Government Geologist for the Territory, describes the 
agricultural resources as * circumscribed,’ the rich patches of lowland soil 
being ‘ so wretchedly small and so few,’ while the larger areas are situated 
where they could ‘ only be successfully cultivated by the installation of 
great irrigation schemes, which are not warranted, while equally good 
areas are available in other States with better climate, facilities, and 
markets.’ Great hopes are based on cotton, despite Dr. Jensen’s pessimism 
regarding it. Its profitable cultivation appears dependent upon the 
establishment of a protected cotton manufacture in Australia, which 
would secure a market for the crop at a price that would pay for the high 
cost of picking. 
The remedy for the failure of the Northern Territory lies not in another 
attempt with Asiatics, but in the removal of the isolation of the Territory. 
Two routes for railway connection are available—the completion of the 
Mid-Continental Line to South Australia, or the construction of a line past 
the Gulf of Carpentaria to Queensland. The route to Adelaide appears the 
more promising, as it would connect two areas so different that they would 
be complementary and not competitive ; whereas the railway to Queens- 
land would run through one climatic zone and would connect districts 
which yield the same products. No special advantage would accrue to 
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