Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-06
LHrTER FROM THE HAWAIIAN
ISLANDS


There are those who make the inquiry
with emphasis. why should there be much
importance attached to the Sandwich Ia
lands, II pin-head Of kingdom, "a they
term II, of less than 100 900 population
possessing little more than six thousand
square miles Of territory, no iDcon-idera-
be portion Of which IL composed Of high
mountains incapable Of cultivation; Pass
Ing by the question Of the great import
aure Of these islands as strategical
not stopping 10 consider the vast sweep
Of Stewards prophecy as to future devel-
Opments IN the Pacific. which the facts
and events Of every new decade are
strongly verifying, ii may he Of interest
10 readers Of the journal to get hold OF
some salient figures showing the present
actual products Of the Hawaiian Kingdom
The cultivation Of sugar cane Ia the
leading interest. which has had a rapid
development the past few years. IL may
surprise some to learn. that this increase
has been from II. 7W,D00 pounds. val
ned At SSH 900. In 1879, to i25 900.
900 puun,l-, valued at 81 100. 900, in 1851,
aud to nearly III, 1000, 900 pounds. valued
at more than sll ,W0.taD Ia 1881 This
remarkabi. increase of sugar production
has been mainly the consequence of the
Reciprecit, Treaty with the nited states,
to which should be added recent improved
methods ui culiivat,ng the cane and cx-
tracing the juice The amount now pro.
du.d per acre il very large, In some eases
from five to six tons per acre, and more
than double the amount per acre obtained
on the Louisiana plantations. There are
now In the islands about EIGHTY LARGE
PLANTATIONS. OWNED and managed by "a
many stock companies. nearly all of them
having their offices and their banking
operations in Honolulu. The present value
than $40, Ooo. 600 L. is sufficient to show
the great Importance of the Reciprocity
Treaty to the Hawaiian Kingdom, nearly
nve-sixths of " hose sugar producing prop.
erty belongs to American citizens. or to
persons of American descent. whose sym
pathes are with the nited >tates, when
the fact IL stated that the value of the
sugar lands has increased probably three
fold since the adoption of the treaty
and that the entire laud-property OF
the islands has doubled, to which
has been added stimulating influence
through all the channels of labor
and trade. 1t ia fair to presume that this
fruetifying effect on the material interests
OF the Hawaiian Islands has been to
strengthen the sympathy of their popula-
ton with the United States, showing the
Treaty to be GOLDEN BoNp whose sig
nificance cannot well be ignored
The value of lands for cultivation il also
Those lands formerly OF small value, be-
cause Of the need OF water In the dry
mouths, are belt < made highly fertile aud
profitable by the irrigation secured by
this method of bringing water TO them.
The other day an American gentleman re-
siding here informed me he had put down
recently one of these wells at the expense
ofthree thousand dollars, thereby securing
\ suf'iciency of water flow through six
inch pipe TO irrigste thoroughly thirty
acres OF land, which he had rented at
thirty five dollars annually per acre, for
the cultivation OF rice. Previously this
land was stiording little income. Surely.
country with $4,000, 900 or $4,000. 900,
OF annual exports to American markets.
and that takes in exchange millions OF
dollars OF tse agricultural products of the
United States. whose harbors are situated
In the track Of this great oceans commerce.
cannot be without interest to American
citizens and American statesmen, many of
whom regard it kind Of Gibraltar to the
future Of the Nation which is to to take
the lead in the Pacific seas, unless she shall
neglect and waste her opportunities with
\ strange and prodigal Indifference.
j. l.. =.
HONOLULU, Nov. -, 1859.