The Hawaiian gazette., 1877-01-24
Concerning the Development of our
Resources.

THE Legislature, at its session last summer,
passed law to aid the development of the
resources of the Kingdom by the appointment
of a Commission "of three suitable persons
"whose duty it shall be to visit any and all
" districts of the various islands of this group
(Which may be thought to possess agricul-
" tural resources hitherto undeveloped, and
" after careful examination to report to the
Minister of Interior, in writing, an estimate
{" of the quality of land in any one locality
capable of being cultivated to advantage,
" the nature of the crops which can be raised
/" thereon, and the feasibility of constructing
" landings therefor, or other facilities for the
shipment of produce, or roads leading to the
I" same, or water courses thereon for the pur-
"pose of irrigation, or for furnishing power
a" for mills, or whatever other improvements
g may to them appear feasible and necessary
in order to the development of the agricul-
Z" tural resources of the locality visited and
" the said commission shall prepare or cause
" to be prepared careful estimates of the pro
bable cost of such improvements, sufficient
surveys and other recommendations which
" to them shall seem advisable to report"
The law, which comprises nine sections, is
not SO full in its details or in its instructions
to the Commissioners as it should have BEEN
1t moreover neglects to provide compen-
sation for those who may engage in the ser
vice, except, perhaps, travelling expenses, and
}bo e =, IL
This omission is a serious one, and will pro-
baby hinder the effectual carrying out of the
intention of the law, which is one of the best
ever enacted by Hawaiian Legislature.
The law evidently contempIates a thorough
inquiry into the undeveloped agricultural re-
sources of the Kingdom, and calls for the
views of the Commission as to how these re-
sources may be encouraged by temporary or
permanent aid from the government. To ac-
complish this much-desired object a perma-
nent bureau was evidently designed to be
established, comprising persons of sufficient
experience to render their Judgment trust
worthy. The service ought to be perma-
nent one, and will probably increase from year
to year, as new capital and new enterprises
seek encouragement and assistance.
There are many localities on each of
islands, now our comparatively worthless,
which might be improved by water courses, or
bridges, or buoys and landings, but especially
by roads. These can be brought into use
only by assistance on the part of the govern
ment; and a permanent commission, de-
voting itself to this object, and holding itself
ready to be summoned to any part of the
group, is evidently what the law contemplates
and what public interests call for. 1t seems
hardly possible to expect this work from
government officers, already in service, who
are needed in their own departments, and
whose prolonged absence from their various
posts always creates complaint.
Merchants, planters and others of long ex-
perience in the country can be found for this
service, if reasonable compensation is pro-
vided. In bringing to it all the outside aid
and cooperation possible to assist in public
service ofthia nature the government strength
ems itself, at the same time that it preserves
the efficiency Of its departmental bureaux.