The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-09-25

''The schools are administered by a
bureau Of the general government.
There are about 30 schools and over
10000 scholars, with 2GO teachers, half
OF whom are natives. English Is
taught in ell the schools, and as edu
! cation is compulsory the rising geue-
ration will all be thoroughly familiar
with the English language. The
school system is admirable, and will
bear comparison with that of any
other country. II was one OF the
| best achievements Of the old govern
ment, which established il.
1.-THE labor laws are just and strictly
administered by the government. All
| contracts must be made in the islands.
| The plantation laborers are from
Japan and China. The Japanese are
sent out under the supervision of
| their own government, which never
| looses sight of them, government
| agents in the islands keeping a record
Of the movements of every Jap, and
| portion of the laborers' wages being
paid TO the japanese consul, to be by
| him retained until the laborer starts
to return to Japan, when they receive
| the money to take with them. The
| contracts are made for three years, on
a liberal basis. The pay is about Sl2
or Sl3 q month, besides board and
y
| is paid by the planter in addition.
| Chinese are only admitted on the pro-
duction of proper passports, issued by
| the Hawaiian consul at HougkoDg,
and the few who obtain entry on
| passports fraudulently transferred to
| them are returned to China on dis
| cOvery of the fraud. There is no adj
| mission tax, except the 8 hospital
fee, which all passengers, white and
III
| cepting Of course the tourists making
| only a short stay. Stowaways are
| not allowed to land, and il they do get
| ashore they are arrested and returned.
The United States law preventing the
landing OF paupers by the requirement
that each immigrant must have $50
at least, will probably he adopted.
The population of the islands is as
follows: Japanese 10000, Chinese 10
800, Hawaiian natives 81 900, besides
6,50O alf-wbites. OF other foreigners
there are 1880, including the Portu-
guese. This gives present total pop
| ulatiOn of 95, 200, against $4,000 at the
| census of 1890. Besides the natives
only the white foreigners have the
right of franchise. The japanese
government has been strongly urging
lately, that the Japs should be given
the right to vote, but to this the Ha-
waiian government refuses 10 con-
sent.
Though the American population
is considerable, the interests Of the
United States are much greater in
proportion; in fact they overshadow
all other interests: The American
capital invested is about $2S, 100000,
againstS5, 900, 900 British and 100000
by Germans and others. The exports
are almost exclusively to the United
States, and the imports from the
country amount to n very considerable
value.
"This capital is invested mainly in
the sugar plantations, the first of
which were established about fifty
years ago. The sugar crop this year
will be about 135, 900 tons, which, at
million dollars. All this sugar is
sent to the United States, under con-
tract made with the United States
sugar trust, CT which Claus Spreckels
is the San Francisco agent. There is
no trust in the islands, and the con-
tracts are made with the individual
planters, for five years, commencing
January i, 1898, and under these the
price paid for Hawaiian sugar, dcliv-
cred in San Francisco, is to be the
ruling price of Cuban sugar in New
York on the same day. The sugar is
sent in sailing vessels as well as in
the steamers. More than one third of
the whole amount is carried in Claus
Spreckels' ships. All the plantations
are on a large scale, and operated
mostly by incorporated companies, but
in these there are great number Of
small shareholders.
Bananas are another source of
wealth. They also are grown mostly
4 N,s.
thrive on this industry. Most of the
export business is handled by one
firm-Marshall Il Campbell. They
send out about 100, 900 lunches year.
worth, say, $4,000. The whole trade
was with San Francisco until the new
steamers gave connection with Vic
toria and Vancouver.
"The rice raised is largely for home
consumption, this being about two
thirds of the whole crop of 100000
pounds. The rest is sent to San Fran
cisco. The rice is grown almost eX-
clusively by Chinese, who have done
wonders in this line, retaining great
tracts of swamp lands in which the
rice thTives, but which had hitherto
been regarded as quite useless. The
Chinese rent the lands, often paying
from So to SO year per acre, and get
rich upon the proceeds.
"Sheep raising Is another important
industry, and the family of Sinclairs
alone have 100, 900. The wool produced
is of superior quality and commands
a good price. 1t is sent TO San Fran
cisco.
"Other articles of export are mo-
lasses, hides, pineapples, oranges and
other fruits. The alligator pear, which
grows in great profusiOn, is very much
in favor, but is not yet exported eX-
cept in small lots, for want of cold
storage facilities. AS an instance of
the value set upon this fruit by those
who once acquire taste for it, it may
be mentioned that cases are shipped
in the refrigerators of Spreckels' boats
on each trip for the use of his family
and friends.
"The total exports of the islands
amount to some $l0,000,000 a year on
the average, and the imports to
S5,0O0,000. AT this rate the Hawaiian
Islands would soon become very rich,
but as the producing capital is partly
owned abroad, of course a portion of
this profit goes out of the country in
interest and dividends. There remains,
however, enough to appreciably in
crease the general wealth year by
year.
"The native Hawaiians have the
reputation of being spendthrift and
improvident, and they very generally
1eSoryn If for II Seop,S an ipopoSSi-