A TOUR ABROAD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6225, 3 June 1907, Page 3

A TOUR ABROAD

PEREGRINATIONS AND OBSERVATION. INTERVIEW WITH MR THOMAS WARDELL. Ono of tho moans by which people in tho colonic? may keep pace with what is going on abroad and noting the progress of other lands is to gather the impressions of those of our own people, who, cognisant of the true condition under which wo arc living, socially and politically, arc privileged in having the time and moans to visit other countries. This was our excuse in soliciting from Mr Thomas Worded, who returned from America lest week, a few of the impressions ho gathered during his absence from the colony. BOOM IN FIJI.

Mr Wardell travelled to America by the Vancouver route, and had occasion to make a short stay at Fiji. Most people know that tho islands are typical of all South Sea islands, but what ho considered most remarkable was to find that there was a veritable “boom" in the group. This “boom" extended to the sugar-growing and eocoannt (copra) industries, which were “going at top." Copra seven or eight years ago was bringing £7 and £8 per ton at Fiji; in January last the price had gone up to £l4 per ton, and in the Inst four months it had advanced as high as £23 por ton. Land in the group, too. is unromantically booming, and largo blocks were being taken up, in most cases, he understood, for grazing purposes. Ho had hoard of ono man who had paid a two days’ visit to Fiji, during which he had purchased a whole island, which ho proposed to utilise for cattle-fattening. This “boom" in island land extended more or less throughout tho Pacific. There was, however, ono exception—Hawaii, where the policy of alien immigration (the place swarms with Japanese) has been detrimental to true progress, while tho attempt to Americanise the group has effectually robbed it to a very great extent of its primitive charms. ON AMERICAN SOIL.

Noticing that the “Times" had just published a very excellent article on Vancouver, he would pass over that city, with the remark that land values seemed absurdly high. From there he went to 1 Seattle, Portland (in Oregon), and San Francisco. Mr Wardell’© impression of the plight of San Francisco has convinced him that the effects of the great earthquakes and fire have been so serious that it will never be the city it was. For many years the place has been subject to ’quakes,, and even since the ruin of tho city there have been several heavy shocks, notably one that occurred about two months ago, when tho water mains wero seriously damaged. The chain of disaster has shaken tho confidence of outside in- j vostors so seriously that Snn Francisco cannot within a very long term of years regain its prestige among the cities. THE PACIFIC PORT OF THE FUTURE. Just as convinced as Mr Wardell is of San Francisco's dire plight, so is he sure that tho pride of place among the United States’ ports of the Pacific will ; bo taken by Seattle. It is situated in the State df Washington, a State immensely wealthy in natural resources—mineral, fisalng, lumber, farming, and agricultural industries. The port is exceptionally well situated in a land-locked harbour, and by making it tho terminus of tho trade routes from the Far East, a somewhat shorter journey is tho result. Further, Seattle commands the whole of the Alaskan trade, as it is the first United States port on the Pacific, Vancouver having been deprived of the trade through the decision of the Arbitration Commission (presided over by Lord Alverstone) . which gave a strip of the coast-lino to tho United States,, cutting off Canada's Alaska communication from the sea. Canada was naturally greatly agitated over the decision, as it meant that all British goods passing inland from the eea-board have to pay dues to tho United States. In this manner Dawson City is cut off from the coast, and Canada is now linking it up by rail from its own tracks. Mr Warcleir also 3 ournpyed to Los Angeles, in Southern California, the centre of the citrons fruit district. This city has a population of between 200,000 and 300,000 people, a population not at all justified by its trade and commerce, but accounted for in that it is an all-tho-voar-round tourist resort. The place was growing still. Huge suras wero being spent on tho development of San Pedro, tho sea-port of Los Angeles, seven miles away. At Los Angeles Mr Wardell saw what he considered to bo the most perfect of electric tram services. There was about 600 miles of tramway tracks, all converging upon a central depot or largo station, and it was only a matter of entering the right door to* gain the car for the particular suburb ono was journeying to. Ho tried to ascertain how many passengers were carried during tho year, but tho managers evidently had no time to count such enormous figures. Ho was told that St. Louis was the only place that could compare with Los Angeles in regard to tram systems in the States. There was a 5 cent faro within, a certain radius, beyond which chargee wero made in accordance with tho distance travelled. Dollar tourist tickets were issued, by which one could travel one hundred miles without doubling on tho tracks. One of these trips was to Mount Lowe—two hours’ journey from the city—a peak 5000 ft above the sea, up which the tramways travelled to a height of 4000 ft. The remainder was walked up easily along graded tracks. On the occasion Mr Wardell ascended a magnificent view was obtained at tho 3000 ft level. They had penetrated a cloud bank, and nowhere around was the earth risible—the vista was just a vast oce.jn .of fleecy clouds, stretching away as far 1 as tho eye could see all round. It was veritably a trip to Cloudland.

MORMONISM. After a delightful stay at Los Angeles, the traveller went on to Salt Lake City, tho capital of tho Mormon State of Utah. The State is immensely wealthy in minerals, and the developments in gold, silver, and copper mining were tremendous, but the place seemed to be suffering from an overdose of Mormouism. The feeling in America regarding Mormonism mas so strong that if the people had tho choice, the State of Utah would not bo recognised ns a State of the Union until it dropped its creed. The Mormons were becoming a political institution to bo reckoned with. All members had to pay 18 per cent, of their earnings to the church, which was immensely wealthy. A strong feeling had been created against this, as the money Was not spent .in the Stato, but in sending out missionaries. From Salt Lake City Mr Wardall journeyed through tho glorious scenic route of Colorado to Denver City, one day being spent in that lively mining centre. THE EXLTHIEST CITY IN AMERICA. Chicago was the next centre reached, and that city, which is undoubtedly a» much tho commercial centre of tho States as Now York is the financial one. Mr Wardell describes as the filthiest city ho visited in America. There people burn a soft bitnminoua coal that charges tho air with dirty, evil-smelling smoke, that means at least three collars a day. While he was at Chicago the question of municipalising tho street railroads was a burning one. Tho Mayor (Mr Dunne), pledged ,to municipalise the system, was returned two years ago, but he had achieved nothing In that tims. At tho last election he was opposed suscossfnlly by Mr Buses (Eepublioan postmastar of r 'hicago), who stood for privets ownership. Th,o terms proposed by tho private company were very liberal as £ar as the Corporation was cnuoaimed. After the company had paid a 5 par cant, dividend on. the assessed value of the service, pipe cpst of improvements the profit was to bo equally divided between company and municipality. Ip tho clectum Mayor Dunns Was ' 4 anaWod 'sndar," being elected by a majority. The feojing oil the (joewtiop gf public ownerthij) versus private enterprise in tbe United States sebnmd to bo greatly against pub-

lie ownership. Only one city had mad© u success of it —Cleveland (Ohio)—where it was said to be more on account of tho keen business attributes of Mayor Tom Johnson, rather than tho underlying principle. After what lie had semi during his travel? he was firmly convinced that nrivate ownership under adequate -supervision was innmteir better than public ownership. IN THE EAST.

4t Washington Congress was in session, and Jlr Wardell had tho privi-le'-'c'of listening to several debates. He Iso had the honour of meeting President Roosevelt, who. when he board the visitor was from New Zealand maniiesLCci a keen interest in “God’s Own Country.” Philadelphia was almost as interesting as U asnmgton, bnt only a short stay was made there. Between iivc and six weeks wero spent in New York. Its growth had been enormous, and was going on. Only two or threo years ago a sub-way was cornnicted that ran the full length of Manhattan Island, which it was calculated would cope with the increase of the street passenger tratlic for tho next ten years to come. Within nine months of its completion tho traffic of the sub-way i was absolutely congested, and has become nuch worse since, leaving the problem of dealing with the city passenger traffic still unsolved-. Including municipal works, streets, parks, bridges, sub-ways and railway stations there is to be spent during the next four or five-years 300,009,000d01. These works include new sub-waya under the Hudson to New Jersey, and under East River to Brooklyn, new bridges to both places, and a colossal railway station in tho centre of the city for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and an enormous Union depot all linos converge). The latter station is to cover two large blocks (with a ?trect running through the centre), and is to bo forty-three stories high—tho highest building to-day was twenty-five ©tories. As illustrating the rents obtainable in the?© city buildings it is said that last year the office accommodation room brought from £2 10s to £4 per square foot per year. After a brief visit to Boston. Mr Wardell returned homewards, via Niagara, Toronto and Montreal. CANADA OVER-BOOMED.

In h»s oninion Canada is much ovorboomed. and tho ultimate success of the thousands of immigrants who were rushing Into that country was . very problematical.