Show Opals Come From FromIn ripest finest f In est Pedy S. S Australia Australi From m Pedy Ped in South Aus- Aus Ausilia Aust Ausin ala come many of the worlds world's fin fin- ilia in t ct opals It Il is a queer community C sends these dazzling jewels fifer the ladies who require add- add adorn adorn to adornments to make them im- im rd cd j or intriguing slates states a writ- writ writer SID cosing rn in the the Chicago Tribune The sev- sev sevI several eral er r I hundred inhabitants of Goober Coober PedY Pedr live Ive in caves Because the set- set settlement is miles from a rail rail- railroad road Even the branch of the Com- Com ComI I bank and general stores L no buildings All AU business is race ave transacted in 10 man-made man caves The Excavations are ten to fifteen f teen feet deep and arc are warm in ln winter and summer when the Fool COOl 1 in summer ter climbs to t degrees They The require no timbering There are arc t. t fireplaces chimneys ventilators shelves and bunks cut into the cave walls lIalIs Gasoline cans serve as tables ta- ta tabes bles bes and chairs Water is scarce tut ut government provided a dam and reservoir from which it delivers rater ater to the caves cayes There are arc no pets ants nor taxes The opal gougers d d their families live lave under primi- primi tre tte tse conditions but are reported to tok toto I k to a contented lot The solid earth is veined with I gypsum and is easy cas to work To End nd the opals the miners merely dig deep holes into the weathered crust of the ridge until the band banda a hard thin t in stratum stratum stratum-js js reached Under this is the opal dirt The opals are found in pockets With his small pick the miner scratches I around until he strikes s something Tard Then he drops his pick to use his gouge a pointed short iron tool with a hole hote for for- forthe the inser- inser insertion insertion tion of a lighted candle If Ii there thereas is as opal there the candle light will reflect its iridescent glint and gleam If the is lucky he hernay may strike it rich some day and anda a gem worth a fortune I |