The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-05-23
HOMESTEAD LOTS.

and the tardy development of all
kinds of agricultural enterprises in
this country, outside of sugar and
rice growing, are matters upon
which we have already commented
pretty freely. When we compare
our record in these respects, with
what is going on in the Pacific
States of America, we have reason to
feel that we are very small potatoes
indeed. OF course, the fundamental
difficulty is the lack Of available
land, obtainable in small quantities,
and suitable as regards location,
accessibility and so on, for the use
Of people of moderate means. Our
climate is at once healthful and
delightful. Our arabic land, much
of which still lies waste, is of exceed
ing richness, and there is a consid-
cradle home market for many pro
duets which flourish in this country,
but with which we are still supplied
mainly from abroad.
Some superciHous critic may pos
sibly ask us, what are you going to
do about it? Well, so far as we are
personally concerned we are not
going to do anything about it, ex-
cept to agitate the question and en-
deavor to keep it before the public
1t Is not the business of newspapers
to provide lands for the landless' any
more than it is to feed the hungry,
clothe the naked, or furnish free
rides for the lame and tired. 1t is
their business, however, and their
duty, to call attention emphatically
TO existing evils, and, so far as prac-
ticable to indicate the direction in
which remedy may be sought for
In matters of this kind, men are
apt to look first to the government
as the source from which relief
ought to come. If this tendency is
not natural and inevitable, it is a.
all events very common, the result
perhaps of education and habit.
Many people regard government
as a kind of special providence,
whose function it is to provide all
kinds of good and desirable things
for people who are unable to pro
vide the same for themselves. This
paternal theory of government has
certain amount of reason in it, and
only does much harm when carried
too far In the present instance,
the help the Government can render
under existing laws, is very limited,
aud an inquiry into the facts Of the
c 5e satisfies US that what they have
done, and are now doing, is all that
could be reasonably asked.
a few years ago a sO-called Home
stead Act was passed, providing for
the disposing of unoccupied Govern
ment lands in small lots to actual
settlers. The law may be a some
what lame and inadequate one, but
such as IL is, it is being carried out
IN good faith, and with results in the
main satisfactory. We have taken
the trouble to obtain a list of the
different lots which have been offered
under the provisions Of this act at
different times within the last year
and a half. The following is the
list:
In 1887, twelve lots in Nuuanu
Valley, Honolulu, and thirty-seven
lots at Ahualoa, Hamakua, Hawaii
These, comprising forty lots in
ali, were well and promptly taken.
In 1888 there were forty lots offered
at Kaapahu, Hamakua, Hawaii, IF
teen lots at Kaunamano, Hamakua,
Hawaii, thirty lots at Paauilo, Ham !
akua, Hawaii, and so far during the
present year, forty-seven lots at
North Kona, Hawaii, forty two lots
at Ukumehameiki, Kula, Maui, and
thirty-cight lots at Kaiwilli, Hilo,
Hawaii The advertlsemen mt Of the
last named appeared in orr yester
day morn lg's issue. In addition to
the above there are thirty-two lots at
Waiakoq. Maui. which have been
surveyed and mapped, and the adj
vertising of which is being held back
pending the settlement Of some mat
tiers involving certain legal formal
tiles.
The above lots, nearly three hun
dred in number, have all been care
fully surveyed and mapped, and no
questions concerning titles or boun-
diaries are ever liable to arise This,
In country where boundaries
are as uncertain and titles as
badly mixed as they often are
here, is no small advantage. Every
lot has frontage upon some exist
.ng public road, or upon land re