The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-09-07
Statistical.
The Hawaiian Islands Their Trade with
the United States.

enterprise and an important source of wealth
both to our own merchants and the Islanders.
Since the Reciprocity Treaty went into effect,
however, and the importation, free of duty,
Of the natural product Of the Islands was be-
gun. their agricultural interests have attained
a new importance in the eyes Of our citizens
generally, and have, in a certain sense, be-
come almost industries Of our own. Sugar
and rice, the two great staples Of .he Islands,
are such articles Of necessity among our con-
sumers that the smallest increase in their
price. caused BIZ a scarcity Of the supply,
must be very generally appreciated, and the
tact that the free importation OF these com
modities from the Islands has now an annual
tendency 10 reduce their market prices in
proportion to the amount Of the crop import
ed here, renders the failure or success Of the
Island industries a matter Of dollars and cents
with all people on the Pacific coast II
should be remembered, too, that the entire ex-
port of sugar and rice from the Islands is 70
this coast; the greater part being to San Fran
cisco, and small quantities going annually
to Portland and Port Townsend. The entire
amount Of sugar shipped from the Islands to
the coast is only about one-third Of the
amount annually consumed in the Pacific
States, leaving the remaining two-thirds to
be imported at a heavy ad valorem duty from
other countries, thereby making a material
increase over the price at which this neces-
sary article could be obtained were our mar
kats entirely supplied from the Islands. tits
not believed that the latter viii ever, at any
future time, produce sufficient sugar annually
70 supply our entire coast. There must be a
IiaIt TO the product, but no limit can be
placed on the growth of our demand. We're
the full productive power Of the Islands now
utilized they could probably send us very
nearly all now consumed on this coast.
During the year ending December 81. 1877,
there we're in round numbers 1900 tons Of
sugar imported here. OF this Hawaiian Is
lands sent over oHe-third, Manila came next
n order, furnishing over 5000 tons; Java and
China sent us each little less than 1000 tons;
the East Indies nearly 1000 tons. while the
remainder was divided among Peru, Central
America and Mexico, the latter contributing
only a small quantity. Thus far this year the
islands have sent usabout ] ]. 000tons OF sugar,
Of which 10000 tons have been shipped 10
San Francisco, the remaining 1000 tons being
divided between Portland and Port Town.
send.
The growth Of the trade during the past
few years can be seen from the following
During the year 1875 there we're exported
from San Francisco to the Hawaiian Islands
merchandise to the value in round numbers
%ttfbfN'ts
over $4,000. In 1877, the year following
the reciprocity treaty between the United
Siafes and the Islands, the value of the ex-
ports advanced to over 81 ,224, 900. The i'm
ports from the Islands to San Francisco
during the same period were as follows, in
1875 81, 600; in 1876, 81, 516, 200, and in
1877, 81 ,901, 900.
The increase in the trade since the treaty
went into effect can also be estimated BY a
comparison of the exports and imports for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1876, with the
calendar year ending December 81, 1877.
The exports during the former year, including
re-exportS- were, IN round numbers, $780,
900, while the imports during the same period
we're 81, 1881, 600. During the calendar year
ending December 81, 1877. the exports and
re-exports amounted to $1,76O, 900, and the
imports aggregated 81, $50, OOO 1t will be
seen from these figures that during the year
following the treaty our exports to the islands
increased over one hundred per cent, while
our imports from the same source we're near
ly doubled.
As to our exports to the Hawaiian Islands
a fair gain is already made for the current
year, Notwithstanding the unwcnted business
depression with which the season opened; the
total exports from this port to the Islands
from January l, 1878, up to the first of the
present month being in value S541 ,553, against
S415,2il for the corresponding SIX months Of
last year.
There has also been an increase in the ex-
portation Of rice from the Islands to this
coast since the reciprocity treaty went into
operation, 1880, SIS being shipped here dur.
ing the year 1877, the year following the
treaty, against S,0l7, 64T pounds in 1876, an
increase Of !, 742, 951 pounds. This amount,
however. Is but about one-seventh of the entire
tire quantity consumed on the coast, remain
ing six-sevenths coming chiefly from China
and subject 10 heavy duty. The Chinese
III this State, until recently, would not buy
Hawaiian rice, but Of late they have become
more favorable to it, thus considerably in
ereasing the previous growing demand
The sugar crop of this year has been con-
siderably curtailed by the drought, the loss
falling chiefly on plantations, on the wind
ward side and without facilities for irrigation.
One Of the largest plantations, that Of James
Mckee, which was estimated to produce 1000
tons, will probably yield but about $50, while
many other planters find their annual erop
proportionately diminished. The total falling
off is estimated at from three to four thousand
tons. The rice crop being situated in the
low marshy lands, where there is always a
supply Of water, escaped the evils Of drought.
and viii probably be larger than that Of last
year.
Many acres of land suitable for sugar plan
tations still remain uncultivated. They are
chiefly located on the leeward sides of the
islands, and at considerable distances from
any of the harbors. Irrigation is needed 10
make them available for cultivation, and "a
cilities for transportation Of the crops to the
nearest ports. There is q abundance Of
water flowing from the mountains of the int.
rior. As is usual in new countries, the most
ayaiablesights on theislands have beenalready
selected, those on the windward sides being
taken up first, while the plantations on the
leeward, which, TO be properly worked, re-
quire irrigation, are generally TO be found as
near as practicable to the principal harbors
II is noteworthy fact, however, that sugar
planters who depend on the rainfall for their
supply of water, suffer losses from drought
far oitener than those who irrigate. Even
when the season is wet one, the latter not
inirequentiy obtained the greatest Yields,
owiRg 10 the sugar-eane requiring not only an
abundance Of moisture, but an even regulari-
~ in its supply not always to be obtained
from natural sources. The great outlay of
labor and capital requisite TO start sugar
plantation has thus far prevented the re-
sources of the islands being developed to
anything like their full extent Irrigation, usu-
ally a NoNtty tnAsA AdS many
capitalists from entering the field, while the
the lack Of transportion on the islands has
proved even greater obstacle. There is at
present, however, movement on foot among
the planters for the construction of railways
along the coasts of Hawaii and Maui, which.
If carried out, will do much to open up the
resources Of those islands Claus Spreckles,
of this city, is said 10 be an active promoter
Of this project. Mr.. Spreckles has recently
purchased about 10000 acres on the island Of
Maui, whittier he has gone in company with
Mr.. Schnssler, the engineer of the Spring
Valley Water Works, for the purpose OF sur.
yeying and commencing the construction of
extensive irrigation works for the sugar plan
tations to which the land is to be devoted.
Another obstacle which the planters now
experience is the difficulty in obtaining labor
The natives are Industrious as compared with
other races of the warm attitudes, but not
wholly adapted to the requirements of the
hard toil on the plantations. The Chinese,
in the past years, have shown decided pref
eIence for the cooler climate and higher
wages of the Pacific coast Now, however,
that John is beginning to find that not only
are his services less in demand in this country
than formerly, but there are signs that he
may not have the opportunity of coming here
in the future, it is quite possible that he may