Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1885-11-26

W iOIWaIu tnlS letteT 10 tneiT 1TlenuS
abroad, but failed to procure copy Of
our Tuesdays edition before it was
exhausted.
As we print a double edition this
morning we will be prepared to supply
any reasonable demand for this issue
PlHALA.
A short hfstory--A visit to the Mifi--Curti-
rafion--WorkinO Eorcc--Sfock Ranch-
Dtscipitne--efc, etc
SHORT HISTORY.
Among the gigantic enterprises
which had their birth at the consum-
nation of the Treaty of Reciprocity
between this Kingdom and the United
States Of America, notible mention
should be made Of Company which
was Incorporated in 1877 under the
name Of the Hawaiian Agricultural
Company Qimited.) This Company
chose for its locality or base Of opera
tions, site at Pahala, situated on the
southeast side of the Island of Hawaii
In due time the mill and other ne
cessary buildings we're erected, five
miles from Punaluu Landing, at an
elevation BOO feet above the sea
level, commanding wide range OF
ocean, and an extensive view Of
the surrounding country. Twenty
five miles along the shore by fifteen
miles inland, reaching into the noun
tains, form the boundaries of the mag
nifcient extent Of territory taken up
by this Company. The variety OF
climate and temperature to be found
upon this domain will doubtless
surprise some Of our Island people,
when told that one may swelter under
the rays Of a tropical sun at the lower
attitudes, while at the highest point the
searching winds that kiss the snow clad
mountain peaks, would make one
shake with the chill of their icy breath.
The first acre of virgin soil on this
plantation was broken in 1877. A
mill second in size to only one ever
built in the history of the world,
complete with building frame, and
cover all of iron, was landed at Puma.
luu, in 1873 Hundreds OF acres OF
land had been plowed and planted with
cane at an aggregate cost of an amount
sufficient to yield more than a Princely
income, when the outlook from long
continued drought, seemed so strongly
Ito betoken utter failure, that it was pro.
posed by those who had been most
sanguine among the promoters Of the
enterprise, to abandon the undertaking,
without even erecting the ponderous
mill which was now lying in heap al
the landing A delegation Of experts
appointed by the Company at Homo
lulu took passage to the scene of distress,
and it is said, their report favored the
retrograde movement, and the delega-
ton was Of opinion that the prospective
capacity Of the whole plantation would
not exceed goo tons Of sugar per
annum. Fortunately for all interested
parties, better counsels prevailed
joyu,ardl was the order; cultivature
progressed rains came at last cane
fields almost white, put on their man
tie Of thrifty green, and hope revived
In 1880. the .ponderous mill, which had
already been condemned under the
euphonious name of "White Elephant,
was removed from its quiet resting
place and put in active service. II
was easy for those who never attempted
to raise stick of sugar cane, or could
not possibly distinguish II ton roller
from vacuum pan, to make all manner
of fun of the projectors of the great
enterprise, criticise and condemn the
purchase, Of the giant mill; but who
to-day, among the promoters or stock
holders of this "Whitc Elephant care
a farthing for the unkind or cruel spor,
Of those who could find pleasure in
Ijeering at the prospective failure Of an
enterprise, which If successful would
advance the interests of the whole
country
The area of cane under cultivation
has steadily increased from 1900 acres
in 1886 until now there is belt OF cane
fields stretching over distance Of
seven miles, lying in north easterly
and south westerly direction. The
lower edge of this belt barely reaches
the elevation Of the mill, rising thence
toward the mountain top to height OF
1900 to 1000 feet The number OF
acres under cultivation by the Com
pany is 1000; and 600 acres more are
cultivated by private planters, who
have their cane gronnd on shares al,
the mill Of the Company. Since 1883
the annual crop of cane taken off has
mot been less than 1900 acres, which
have yielded an average OF az tors OF
sugar per acre. The present entire
crop for the current year is estimated
at 1000 tons. The largest days work
performed this month was 81 clarihers,
| yielding IS tons of sugar. The highest
numbers of tons ofsugar made, bagged,
weighed, and shipped during any one
day this year is a61a tons. The best
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