The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-08-19

" What shall the white children do, who are
50 rapidly increasing?" Hitherto, all who had
the capacity might hope to become teachers,
or 10 enter one Of the learned professions, or
10 find employment as merchants, or mechanics;
but these places are now mostly occupied
Nor is it TO be expected that there viii be q
very urgent call for managers of plantations
and ranches. And not many white parents,
we think, are willing 10 have their children
become cultiyators oil the soil, or sailors. If
they look to the Fatherland, they hear the
complaint that thousands can find nothing to do.
But the prospect is not altogether dark.
Though the population is reduced to $4,000,
the islands doubtless are capable of supporting
twenty times as many; or they might support
that number if their capacity was fully deyel-
oped. There is much barrenness now where
verdure and fruitfulness once prevailed. This
is owing in a grea; measure to the destruction
of the forests. In order to bring back the
showers that were once frequent, and the
resulting fertility, the forests must be repro
duced. And this is a matter that concerns all
the jewellers on these islands. The legislature
should enact laws without delay to protect the
forests that remain, and to plant trees wherever
needed to secure a conservation of the rainfall.
In enacting forest laws the example of Germany
and other European nations may be proftably
followed.
For a warning against suffering our forests
to be recklessly destroyed, we have only to
consult the history of Palestine, North Africa,
the Grecian Isles and the Cape de Verde
Islands. Matte Brun, the great geographer
ca-z " t. IL ~ ~ =.
the clearing of the forests, which has dried
up the springs and rendered the atmosphere
~sultry." Says another writer, 1.-The mountains
of Peloponnesus, as well as nearly all the
islands of Greece, are bare, and the population
is SO scanty as to form the mockery of n
kingdom. The forests, woodlands, and groves
of classic Greece passed away long ages ago;
and that once fair land, with her thousand
isles, and the whole coast Of Asia Minor, and
Palestine herself,-treeless, bald, and barren,
arid and desolate,-all wear the common aspect
of neglect, decay, and restitution"
We might go on and quote page after page
to show the disastrous effects of destroying the
forests of a country but is it necessary?
are not these effects appearing in various parts
of these islands? are not large tracts, on which
taro, and sweet potatoes, and sugar cane once
grew, now given up to pasturage, because,
during long months every year, no rain falls
on them ? and are not the streams diminishing
and drying up? we have noticed that after q
few weeks of dry weather, the Nuuanu stream
is p~erceptibly less. AT the present time there
is so little water in it, that the people of
Honolulu may well feel alarmed lest they should
suffer from the failure of the usual supply,
especially if a fire should break out. The
newspapers of Honolulu have spoken out on
this subject, and now it remains for the residents
to bestir themselves. If the government are
blind to the threatened evil, a pressure should
be brought to bear upon them, to cause them
to open their eyes, and to take energetic
measures to avert the approaching ruin. In
1860 ten millions of francs were appropriated
in France, to be expended at the rate of one
million a year for the purpose of re-planting
the forests. Why cannot the Hawaiian Legis-
lature make an appropriation for the same
purpose?
Taking it for granted that better counsels
will at length preyail,-that efficient measures
will be taken for restoring and preserving the
forests of Hawaii nei, and that tracts of land
HOW dllHOet Il uesert because llttle ram IailS on
them, will in time be clothed in verdure and
richly repay the labor bestowed on them, we
see the promise that white children now grow
ing up will find remuneratiye employment.
The wool produced on the islands may be
manufactured. The hides may be tanned,
and converted into boots, shoes, and saddles.
The ramie may be extensively cultivated. and,
with Mr.. Coleman's patent, be manufactured
with great profit. Many varieties of fruit may
be produced and cured for expectation, as
figs and perhaps grapes; Sandal wood
may again spread over valleys and hills as in
former days, and become q rich source of
traffic; while the koa, the kou and other
Hawaiian woods may be sought for
artisans in other lands.
And sources of profitable industry not fore
seen by the wisest may yet be opened and
afford a livelihood to q dense population. Nor
10 we see, when looking into the future, the
whites either driven out by other races, or
even thrown into obscurity. A bright future is
opening for the white children ON these islands,
they will only prepare themselves for it by
habits Of virtue and Industry.