The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-10-31
HlLO BUDGET.
opening for Fruit Industries-
Bananas, Oranges and Fine.
apples-3now-eapped
maunakea.
ESPECIAL To THE p. c. ADVERTISER !

Oh TINS irresponsible system Of gov
eminent, and sigh for the time to
come when we can get down to
period OF peaceable, practical man
agement of the country's affairs, and
an opportunity to develop new re-
sources. Hawaii is, at present time.
struggling on the eve of the develop
ment of diversity of industry; but
everything Is, in measure, handi-
capped by the instability of our Gov
eminent. The districts Of Hilo-
Puma especially-feel it more, if any
thing, than elsewhere on the islands,
for until the Government succeeds in
overcoming the heavy duty imposed
by the United States on canned and
preserved fruits, extensive districts
that could be cultivated in small
fruits and other products will remain
undeveloped. There is not now, nor
will there ever be here, a good home
market for the small fruits we ought
to raise, and it is only by means of
canneries that we can hope for de-
velopment In that line; but this in
dustry could not be expected to exist
against 80 per cent. wall, and this
when we get down to working gov
eminent should be hastily removed.
The numerous sections that are
being cut up into homestead lots,
particularly on Hawaii, are in many
cases better adapted to the raising of
small fruits of some nature than for
any other product. IL the Govern
ment can succeed in providing a
market for our fruit produce, the in
dustry would in a very short time
develop. Lands that are otherwise
bound to lie idle would be taken up,
planted and cultivated by small
farmers, canneries would be started,
and the industry become one among
the prime factors in the future pros
perity of the islands.
There are 391 lots Of an average of
about so acres each, as yet sur
veyed only in part, but located on
the map, but lying along the Volcano
Road beginning eleven miles from
Hilo and running mauka a little
above the twenty four mile post, the
elevation being from 1000 to 5000
feet. This stretch has only lately
been opened up to settlement and
the lots can be obtained on lease
of thirty years and on reasonable
terms. The road is now built and
there is no question that it will al
ways be maintained in first class
order In fact, if this section devel-
ops and our tourist travel becomes of
any magnitude, there can be every
assurance of a railroad to the Volca-
no. While considerable tracts Of this
land will be planted in coffee, there
will still be large areas of it which
would be better adapted for growing
fruits. Were the industry once start
ed, such large lots could be sub divid-
ed, and the whole would support a
considerable population.
Lack Of steamer service is another
of our drawbacks, but we are al
ways getting nearer the time for a
steamer to touch at Hllo, and compe-
tition on the tourist travel will even
tually make this steamer port.
When such is the case the banana
trade, which is so looked forward tC
by many of our citizens, will be op
ened up. With it will be other
fruits which some Of our citizens are
at present cultivating and yearly in
creasing at no present profit to them
selves, in fact the whole place lies IL
allowance for the want of steamer
service, and it will not take Ions
after it is guaranteed to produc'
freight. Hilo has developed so much
in the past seven or eight years, ant
has got such ample room for increas
as soon as the times and circum
stances warrant, that it is destine'
in the future to be the banner dis
trict of the islands in other products
as it is now the greatest sugar pre-
ducing district.
On Tuesday afternoon good def
of thunder was heard rolling aroun
the mountain slopes, and on Wedne'
day morning, when the mountain
cleared, the upper peaks of Maun
Kea were seen to be capped with
beautiful mantle of white snow.
is rather unusual to have a snoy
storm SO early in the season.
The principals John Costa an
his wife) in the Kona poisoning cas-
were, about eight years ago, residen
of Hilo. Costa started, at Wainak
the growing of sugar cane and bui
small mill to take the crop Oft wht
matured, but becoming insolvent
Encouragement, the place was ever
ually taken over, and with 9th
plantations adjoining, formed IN
what is now the Hilo Sugar Co. Cos
was married to his present wife
Hilo, shortly before they left. Th
took up their residence in ko1
where he went into the dairy busine
subsequently, drifting into sever
other occupations none OF VIII
proved successful. He was a ha
worker, but was not able to direct
efforts successfully for his own bel
fit. Since the deceased sister, ca
to live with them, there has beer
good deal of strife among them :;
and the two sisters became very t
ter at times. It is generally suppo::
that to avoid this constant blckerl
the murder was committed. In
q