The great western plains are Cretaceous, partly consisting of the series known as Desert sandstone. It incloses a large area of metamorphic rocks in the northwest, and disappears under the Tertiary strata fringing the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The eastern mountain belt consists very largely of granites and igneous rocks, with extensive volcanic areas of more or less recent origin. The granite ranges are flanked by large areas of Paleozoic rocks, chiefly Devonian and Carboniferous. There are extensive coal beds in the State, both in the Carboniferous and in the Cretaceous strata of the west. Auriferous quartz veins are also scattered through the mountain region, and lodes of silver, copper, mercury, bismuth, antimony, tin, and cobalt are also found.
The mineral resources, especially its gold, have contributed much to the development of Queensland. The total gold production to the end of 1900 was £50.200,783. Since 1889 the annual output has not fallen below two million pounds in value. The highest figure reached, £2,871,700, was in 1900. The output of tin, formerly an important source of income, has been much reduced during recent years. the value having been estimated at £74.041 in 1900. The value of the copper output fluctuates greatly. In 1900 it was £23,040. The value of silver lead in the same year was £12,712, which was several times less than was common a decade earlier. The value of the coal output increased steadily from £24,573 in 1880 to £157,071 in 1890, and after a subsequent decrease, stood in 1900 at £173,705.
General agricultural interests are not yet extensively developed. The vast region west of the mountains is too arid to admit of successful farming. Along the coast, however, the rainfall and the soil favor the growth of a very great variety of products both temperate and tropical. The area under crops increased from 242,029 acres in 1891 to 457,397 in 1900-01, not including grass and fallow lands. The most extensively grown crop in the latter year was corn, to which 127,974 acres were devoted. Wheat is grown in the southeast, there being, in 1900-01, 42,497 acres. In the same year there were 42,497 acres in hay. 11,000 acres in Irish potatoes, and 3584 in sweet potatoes. By far the most important crop is sugar-cane, the area devoted to which increased from 50,022 acres in 1890 to 108,535 in 1900-01. The rich lands at the mouths of the numerous streams are well adapted to sugar culture. Formerly the plantation system prevailed, the labor being done by Kanakas brought into the country for this work. There has been much objection to the introduction of colored labor, and under Government aid a system is developing which it is thought will dispense with the necessity for such immigration. The Government aids a combination of small farmers to erect mills which are operated i upon the cooperative plan. A great variety of fruits are successfully grown. In 1900 there were 2019 acres in grapevines. Bananas, pineapples, and oranges are extensively produced along the coast.
Queensland is still largely a pastoral country. Much of the region west of the mountains is adaptable to pastoral industries, though too dry for farming, and the sheep are mainly found in that part. The number of sheep increased from 6,935,967 in 1800 to 21,708,310 in 1892, but decreased since that year to 10,339,185 in 1900. This decrease was attributed to drought. In many places the drought of late has been effectually guarded against by the boring of Artesian wells, and occasionally by damming streams and other means. Queensland has more than twice as many cattle as any other Australian State. The number increased from 3,102,752 in 1880 to 7,012,997 in 1894, since which time it has decreased to 4,078.191 in 1900. The introduction of improved methods of caring for meat—freezing, preserving, etc.—makes possible larger shipments of meat products, and increases the profit accruing in stock-raising. Dairy farming is beginning to receive much attention, and many cooperative creameries have been established in the southern part of the country. In 1900 there were 450,788 horses and 122,187 hogs in the State.
Queensland has a variety of industries such as the manufacture of Hour, sugar, butter and cheese, brewing and distilling, meat-packing, tanning, and the sawing of lumber. In 1899, 28,883 hands were employed in the various branches of manufacturing.
In the external trade the imports increased from £5,000.700 in 1890 to £7,184,112 in 1900, but decreased in the following year. The exports gained from £8.554,512 in 1890 to £11,942,858 in 1899, but declined in the two subsequent years. The most valuable items of export are gold, wool, frozen meat, sugar, hides and skins, preserved and salted meats, and tallow. The largest imports are textiles and clothing, metal and metal goods.
In December, 1901, there were 2801 miles of railroads, mostly in the hands of the Government. Up to that time the Government had expended £20,130,023 in the construction of them. Three lines—one in the south, one in the centre, and one farther north—extend westward into the interior, but there is no connecting line between these. The postal service and the telegraph lines are in the hands of the Government.
The Governor is appointed by the British Crown. He has an Executive Council of 9 members, 8 of whom hold portfolios. There is a Parliament of two Houses—the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly. The members of the former are nominated by the Crown for life, and in 1902 numbered 39. The 72 members of the popular House are elected for three years. There is universal male suffrage. After a residence of months certain classes of property-holders are allowed to vote in any district in which their property is located. Queensland sends 9 members to the Australian House of Representatives.
The ownership of public utilities on the part of the State has incurred heavy debt and a large annual revenue and expenditure. The debt in 1900 was £35,898,414. In the fiscal year 1900-01 the revenue and receipts amounted to £4.327,345. Of this, £1,117,472 were collected from taxation, mainly customs, and duties on bank notes, probate and succession duties, and other stamp duties. The land revenue brought in £585.229, the largest item being 'pastoral occupation.' The income-earning public works, chiefly railways and tramways, had a gross income of £1,481,008. The working expense of the railways was £1,050,132. The largest item of expenditure—the charges upon the public debt—
