Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-01
TEE ISLAND KINGDOM M.
VIRTUALLY AN AMERICAN COLONY
In THE PACIFIC.
An Interesting Interview With a
Prominent Resident Of the
Hawaiian Islands.

pleasant chat at the Capital Hotel on
Thursday evening with B. F. Dillingham;,
leading capitalist and planter of Homo
lulu, who was in the city for the purpose
OF inspecting herd of Galloway cattle, at
| Agricultural Park, that are to be shippe6
to Honolulu in few days. Mr.. billing
ham was asked if the islands were now in
| prosperous condition.
They are" he said, more prosperous
than at any period can recall during nv
long residence there. A syndicate, of
which l am member, is now building a
railroad from Honolulu to Pearl Harbor,
where the United States has the exclusive
right OF occupation as coaling station, etc.
This road, in which l own four-fifths of the
stock, will be some twenty-five miles in
length, and when in operation it will be
the hrst regular passenger railroad on the
islands. There are couple of short lines
now, but they are used almost entirely for
trelghting purposes. Eventually we expect
to extend our road entirely around the
island"
rs your visit to California in any wav
connected with this enterprise"
We'll, yes" replied Mr.. Dillingham;,
am having twenty eight cars built for
the road. The work is being done by Cali
fornia mechanics, the Carter Bros, at New
ark, Alameda county. They built all the
cars IN use on the narrow-gauge road that
runs from Alameda to Santa Cruz, and
most OF the cable cars now in use in San
Francisco. Our locomotives will have TO
be built in the East, as the Southern Pa
chic Company has all it can do in this line
for itself"
About what proportion of manufactures,
etc, required on the islands is purchased
IN California, or rather in the United
States?" asked the reporter.
What proportion " almost exclaimed
the speaker. why, my dear sir, might
truthfully say that everything not pro
duced on the islands is bought here. But,
to be exact, will say that Just ninety-two
per cent of last year s importations came
from the United States. | know this, be-
cause ! made a report on the subject, and
am able to give the exact figures. | have
not copy of it with me- but will send the
RECORD UNION one on my return to Homo
lulu. Why we imported from California
last year alone no less than $500 600 worth
OF hay, grain, etc, for live stock on the
islands"
Reporter" What is the comparative
strength OF the American element in
Hawaii, as regards business and property
ownership ?"
To all intents and purposes" said Mr..
Dillingham;, Hawaii is an American
! colony. Americans are now paying seventy
five per cent. of all the taxes there"
Reporter -" How did the Americans
manage to secure foothold in the islands,
By their pluck, enterprise and public
spirit. The reciprocity treaty has helped
both sides to the compact You see, we, of
the Sandwich Islands, are not manufactur-
ers at all. We have one industry-that of
| sugar-growing; we are consumers of the
| things that the United States manufacturers
have for sale. Reciprocity with Hawaii
does not endanger American manufacture
ing interests. The only thing we have to
ol1er IN your market is sugar. Why, I'D to
the time the reciprocity treaty was made
our trade with the United States
amounted to from SI,OOO,COO to
$2,O0O,0OO year. Last year it exceeded
Sl5,OOOOOO. | notice that a great
many Americans who have never been on
the Islands and whose knowledge of affairs
| there and of the character of the mercan-
tile relations with the United States often
refer to the great benefits that Hawaii has
received through the generosity of this
country. They see only one side of it.
They see that we sell lots of sugar over
here, but they overlook or ignore the fact
that II return for the favor extended to us.
we supply all our wants from the factories
and shops and harvest fields of this coun
try. As before stated, more than 80 per
cent OF everything we require is purchased
here"
Reporter-"Has the United States much
competition TO meet in mercantile lines on
the islands,"
Yes, she has had most vigorous compe-
tition from the English and Germans, but
the large American element there has Sc
cured control of affairs and American
trade is constantly doomed for all there is
IN II. The United States cannot afford TO
neglect her citizens over there. They
should have every protection that the
strong arm of the Government can extend
to them, with, of course, a proper regard
for treaty stipulations. Hawaii should be
Tegarded-as far as trade interests are con-
cerned-as an outlying American colony,
which it is in fact to-day Our people
have control in nearly everything there
Reporter--"Has Hawaii reached any,
thing like her possibilities in the way of
sugar production-iD other words, what
are the inducements to newcomers in that
direction. if any ?"
We'll" replied Mr.. Dillingham;, at
islands have not been half tested. Our
company alone controls 100 900 acres of what
might be called wild land, but which can,
WITH small OUTLAWS, be converted into first
class cane land. Indeed, one OF the objects
we have IN view in building a railroad
around the island is to develop these lands
and attract strangers thereto"
Reporter" What is the average cost of
good cane-land, and what profit is derived
therefrom p
Good, irrigated cane-growing land is
worth about $3.50 per acre. 1t will produce
from five to seven tons of sugar mot the
cane per acre. This raw sugar is worth
from 81 to y cents per pound. Thus you
will see that, at lower estimates than these.
an acre of good sugar-cane is worth at least
$500 or 5000 year. l don't think that
Callfornlans, even IN exceptional cases. can
do as well with their land as this. Besides,
the cane is a pretty sure CROP
In conclusion, Mr.. Dillingham; said that
Hawaii has, in his opinion. bright future
before her. There are occasional political
discussions, but time will regulate matters
in that particular The American element
is steadily growing stronger in the islands,
and will undoubtedly be able to control af-
fairs there if the Government should con-
tinue its present liberal policy.
In company with Mr.. Dillingham; was J.
Campbell, also of Honolulu, who is inter-
ested in the shipment of the fine cattle re-
ferred to. The reporter also met Walter
G. Weldon, from whom the cattle were
purchased. He is Secretary of the Inter-
national Galloway Cattle Company, whose
headquarters are at Kansas City, Missouri,
and is constantly travelling in the interests
of the company. The latter has large herds
in Missouri and the Northwest, and also
near Reno, New. They keep a number
near this city for convenience of sale. Mr..
Weldon was formerly editor of the Ameri-
can Herd Book and is thoroughly posted as
to the merits of the different breeds of
cattle.
The present sale consists of twenty-on
head and they will be shipped from here
to Honolulu by the first vessel bound for
that place.