The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-06-19
ADVERTISING THE ISLANDS.

terview, between Mr.. B. F. Dillinghar
OF this city and Record Union re
porter, from the columns of that Sacra
mento journal:
"A Record Union representative had
pleasant chat at the Capital Hotel OF
Thursday evening with B. F. Dillingham;
leading capitalist and planter of Ho
nolulu, who was in the city for the pur
pose OF inspecting herd of Galloway
| cattle, at Agricultural Park, that are t.
be shipped to Honolulu in a few DAYS
Mr.. Dillingham; was asked if the island:
were now in a prosperous condition.
They are, he said, ''more prosperous
than at any period can recall during
my long residence there. A syndicate
| OF which l am member, is now build.
ing railroad from Honolulu to Pear
Harbor, where the United States has
the exclusive right of occupation as a
coaling station, etc. This road, in which
own four-ffths of the stock, will be
some twenty-five miles in length, and
when in operation it will be the first re-
gular passenger railroad on the islands.
There are a couple of short lines now
but they are used almost entirely for
freighting purposes. Eventually we ex-
pect to extend our road entirely around
the island"
"Is your visit to California in any way
connected with this enterprise? ?"
"Well, yes" replied Mr.. Dillingham;,
II am having twenty-eight cars built for
the road. The work is being done by
California mechanics, the Carter Bros,
at Newark, Alameda county. They
built all the cars in use on the narrow
gauge road that runs from Alameda to
of no 10
now in use in San Francisco Our loco
motives will have to be built in the East,
as the Southern Pacific Company has all
it can do in this line for ITSELF"
About what proportion of manufac
lures, 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, l
might truthfully say that everything not
produced on the islands is bought here.
But, to be exact, / will say that just
ninety-two per cent. of last years i'm
portations came from the United States.
[ know this, because | 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 Honolulu.
year alone no less than $3.50, 900 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 pro-
perty-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
to secure a foothold in the isl
ands N
"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 manu-
facturers at all. We have one industry
that of sugar-growing; we are consum
ers of the things that the United States
have for sale. Recipro-
city with Hawaii does not endanger
only thing we have to offer in your
market is sugar. Why, up to the time
the reciprocity treaty was made our trade
with the United States amounted to from
81 ,0O0,0 900 to 100000 year. Last
year it exceeded $15,000,0O0. L notice
that great many Americans who have
never been on the islands and whose
knowledge of affairs there and of the
character of the mercantile 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 over
look or ignore the fact that in return for
the favor extended to US, we supply all
our wants from the factories and shops
and harvest fields of this country. 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 ?"
eyes, she has had most vigorous COM
petition from the English and Germans,
but the large American element there |
has secured control of affairs and Amer |
can trade is constantly doomed for all |
there is in it. 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 regarded-as far as trade in
,erests are concerned-as an outlying |
American colony, which 1t Is IN tact to-
lay. Our people have control in nearly
everything there"
Reporter-"Has Hawaii reached any
hing like her possibilities in the way of
sugar production-in other words, what !
are the inducements to newcomers in
hat direction, if any?"
'fWell," replied Mr.. Dillingham;, "it
may be said that the possibilities of the
stands have not been half tested. Our
alone controls $50, 900 acres of
what might be called wild land, but
which can, with small outlays, be con-
verted 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 de- |
rived therefrom
"Good, irrigated cane-growing land is
worth about $160 per acre. 1t will pro-
duce from five to seven tons of sugar !
(not the cane) per acre. This raw sugar |
is worth from 611a to IL cents per pound.
Thus you will see that, at lower esti-
mates than these, an acre OF good
is worth at least $500 or 5000 |
a year. 1 don't think that Californians,