Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-04-14
MADE THE DESERT BLOOM.
IRRIGATION AND THE BIG SUGAR
PLANTATIONS OF HAWAII
Life on the Islands - Description OF
the Government Buildings the
Churches and schools.

Australia, during the year Of 1888, and
in 1859 was appointed Commissioner to
sll the Australian colonies, including
New Zealand, in the interest OF the
Worlds Fair, made three visits TO the
colonies and the Hawaiian Islands dur
ing lSSe, 1889 aud 1891. In reply to
questions as to his experience and the
climate of the Hawaiian Islands, the
Colonel said ar have lived in louisiana,
and visited Cuba and Mexico, and none
of those places in any way compare with
the islands. l have never heard or seen
any one who could describe aud do their
climate full justice. While on the island
mad conversation with Mr.. Irwin, the
agent of Claus Sprcckles, the great
sugar king Mr.. Irwin said
"'The largest sugar estate in the world
is located on this island. The capital
invested is principally owned in the
United States. 1t is on the sandy lsthmuS
connecting East aud West Maui, and on
a plain which was formerly an arid des-
ert, where neither tree or blade OF
grass could formerly be found can now
be seen green pastures, beautiful flower
gardens, avenues Of trees, and 12,OOO
acres of growing sugar cane. Each
acre will produce three times as much to
the acre as can be raised in LOUISIANA.
We produce as high as six tons to the
acre, which is considered a very ordinary
yield, while two tons to The acre is con-
,idered a very fair crop in louisiana.
" This great change has been brought
about BY storing the rain water from the
clouds which had fallen on barren rocks,
forty miles distant, and for nunberless
ages has run TO waste in the sea below.
The work OF transferring this water f-om
the mountains to these fertile plains was
an immense undertaking, and it was by
far the grandest piece OF engineering the
island can boast. Some idea of its mag
nitude may beolcarned from the fact
that it took the best talent that could be
secured to construct it. The difficulties
to be surmourted were numberIess.
First, there were thirty gulches to be
crossed, some OF them being over 1000
feet wide and 400 feet leep, and it took
for this purpose alone 81 900 feet OF forty
two inch pipe. There are also twenty
eight tunnels, three by eight feet, cut
through solid rock, some OF them being
over 500 feet long.
" There are five reservoirs, the
largest capable Of holding 10000 cubic
feet of water, and il they were all full it
is supposed there would be enough to
irrigate the whole plantation for several
months. The Waihee ditch is the same
size as the other, and is twenty -one miles
long; has an average grade of three feet
per mile, aud delivers at weir from
twenty to seventy cubic feet of water per
second. These two bitches deliver
5000, 900 cubic feet Of water per day.
The plantation contains 5000
acres. In one body of this tract there
are %, 900 acres OF tirst-class caac land,
of which II, 900 acres are constantly
under cultivation. These cane fields
extend more than fifteen miles in oac
direction and several in width. There
are this year 2O00 acres Of plant caue
from q few inches to SIX feet IN height.
There are $500 acres OF matured cane
ready for the mill, and it will yield five
tons OF sugar to the acre. 1t is divided
into seven camps. Each OF these camps
is fitted with tables, cookhouses, and
buildings for housing the overseers and
| workmen.
"'To be successful in our crops We
have had to irrlgate. TIE water on this
plantation has to be applied art:dcially.
We also find that the stored water has
advantages over the regular rain. 1t is
found that irrigated land usually yields
one or TWO tons OF sugar to the acre more
than lands supplied with only the regular
rainfall The stored water acts as ferti.
lizer to the land by bringing down from
the mountain waste debris, which keeps
the soil in better condition. Our fields
are known according to the number OF
camps in which they are located. The
irrigations are repeated every eight days
on plant cane
1.-THE Kings palace" continued
Colonel Campbell, sis situated opposite
! Palace Square. 1t is of concrete, lao
feet long and 100 feet wide. 1t con-
tains forty rooms IN all, aud cost some.
what over $500, 900. The furnishing i:
of ordinary modern type. The palace
grounds are some ten acres in extent
They are surrounded by wall three feet
in height, and are laid out with gras:
and dotted with trees and shrubbery.
"Tne Aiionani Hall, or the Govern
meut buildings, are opposite the palace.
The grounds in which the buildings
stand are neatly kept and planted with
palms. On the first floor of this build
ing the legislative hall is located, also
used at times as court room. The room
& decorated with several interesting
portraits and curios. In the same yard
the Aliiolani Hall is situated, in which are
the offices of the survey department,
board Of public works, the assessor and
collector.
"The Hawaiian Opera House stands
next to the Cover lment buildings. II
cost $40, 900 and has a seating capacity
of 1000 people. The Queen Hospital
was erected through the efforts OF King
Kamehaneha w., and his consort, Queer
Emma, being named after the latter
The building is constructed of coral, with
three wooden buildings attached, anC
natives of both sexes are admitted
There is a tax of seventy-Eve cents tc
$3.50 per day imposed upon all wht
enter the hospital for treatment. Th,
grounds are spacious and afford ampl,
opportunity for the pleasant exercise o
convalescents. One of the chief orna
ments of the city is an avenue OF dat,
palms which leads from the entrance tC
the main building.
"There are ten churches, which are
| rlaaqiHad aa followa. EniacnDal fhroa