The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-04-30
H PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY,, APRIL so.
Wool and n wooden Factory.


Wool and n WOODEN Factory.
The bark Ka MOI took away nearly sixty
thousand pounds of Hawaiian wool, and the ship
Sren will probably take q still larger quantity.
The thought suggests itself, why may not all our
wool be manufactured here INTO the more common
fabrics, such n blankets and lannels, for native
wear, instead Of being disposed of at the beggarly
price of Elk, eight or ten cents, which barely pays
the cost of shcaring and other expenses necessary
to prepare it for shipment. Our wool is Of i
medium quality, sufficiently fine, however, TO
make all the fabrics required for native trade.
We have ON Hawaii and Kauai, ample water
power anywhere on the weather sides Of those
islands. and the chief lack is enterprise, for capital
would doubtless be forthcoming, if there were
any disposition shown 10 encourage the work.
In conversation with 4 German gentleman now
here, who was brought up to the WOODEN business,
and Is familiar with the details of its manufacture,
we learn that the estimated cost Of a factory of
say twenty looms. with a capacity sufficient TO
consume the twO hundred and fifty thousand
pounds annually produced in the islands.-will
De about forty thousand dollars. The number of
hands required, when in full operation is from
forty to fifty. including labOrers and skilled work
men. So far ~ can be learned, there are no
Obstacles to prevent wooden fabrics from being
manufactured here az cheaply as in England or
Germany, as the cost of labor is less here than
there.
Now. we sell orr wool at a low price 1t pays
a heavy freight 10 Europe, is there manufactured
into the fabrics we need, and we pay the freight
back on it, with insurance, commissions and
-. H. ,I,~,,.. a,I rroGtE oil Of which
arc to foreign capitalists and laborers. The one
hundred thousand dollars annually paid by tine
Hawaiian people for the coarser wooden goods
consumed here, might all be retained if manu-
featured here, and whatever is paid for labor and
material would I've paid solely to our own people,
who would get their goods at much less than it
now costs them, while wool growers would obtain
more for their produce. Besides the demand for
these islands, we must not forget that our manu-
facturers might also supply the trade for the
Arctic as we'll as for the islands south aud west
of US, cheaper than the goods can be furnished
from Europe or elsewhere.
For illustration, take the article of blankets,
of which a factory here could turn out as good as
is required for native wear, and furnish them at
OHe-hGJf the price now charged. One reason
why inc hdtNeo are uSLnb OH 80 rapIuly 49,
because when sick, they cannot procure the neces-
sary clo~thing-fannels and blankcts-to keep
themselves warm. Without ample protection
against the cold. the stoutest framed invalids must
succunb 4 disease. We overlook this great need
of the natives-they are dying from want Of
necessary warm clothing during the inclement
winter months.
Another thing which should not be lost sight
of, is the fact that If wooden clothing material is
manufactured here, it must of necessity be made
up here, and this will give employment 10 hum
dreds Of men and women, who would gladly
engage in this branch of business. With a good
factory here, no foreign competition could prevent
our artizans supplying the natives with ali the
clothing they require.
The Legislature convenes to-day, and 1T cannot
do a more commendable service for the comfort
and health of the native race, than to frame and
pass 4 law to exempt from duties all machinery
or other materials imported expressly to construct
aud finish a wooden factory and even to offer Il
bonus for the first one erected and carried into
successful operation. The inducements should
be such as will successfully entice hither the
right men to embark in the enterprise. Even if
it does not result In establishing a WOODEN factory,
it will show 4 disposition 10 encourage what
every one acknowledges to be a great necessity.