The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-08-29
PIOne er Efforts Made by Il. NJ.
Whitney During War Period.
LISTING MACHINE AT IwILEI.
fieecy Staple Produced in the Islands
Commanded Highest Prices in Mark
cts OF the WOrId-Made Finest and
Strongest Sewing Thread, Etc, Etc.

An industry which is destined to
again bring Hawaii into favorable
notice as cotton-producing coun-
try was recently inaugurated at
Iwilei by A. F. Cooke, the fertilizer
manufacturer. A limiting machine
with a capacity of several tons a
day has been placed in position and
work commenced.
The machine, which resembles
the ordinary and improved Ameri-
can cotton gin, separates lint from
cotton seed imported by Mr.. Cooke
for fertilizing purposes, making
grinding more easy. The lint is
gathered in wide, long roll at the
rear of the machinery, and when
filled another comb is placed to re-
ceive the stuff.
While it is absolutely necessary
that the lint be removed from the
seed received from the South Sea
Islands in order that the same may
be more advantageously used in
the manufacture of fertilizer, the
introduction of the machine is an
experiment as yet. The cotton
seed, formed in pods several
inches long, are fed into hopper
like contrivance in front, the lint
being removed by circular saws,
the same as in cotton gins.
AT present there is only limited
market for the lint, which, however,
can be used successfully as waste
for machinery and in the manufac-
ture of mattresses and upholstered
furniture.
Samples of the South Sea Island
cotton have been planted in the
yard at the Mechanics Home, and
grown to height of several feet,
practically demonstrating that the
product can be raised successfully
in the islands.
Old residents will call to mind
efforts of several gentlemen in rails
ing cotton at different points on the
islands, Mr.. H. NJ. Whitney being
the pioneer in that line. An ex-
tract from the work carried out by
him and published in the Planters
Monthly, June of last year, is given |
below, showing the rise, success !
and ultimate abandonment of the |
cotton industry, and the causes
which led to it:
ain the early part of the American |
civil war (1S6D, the price of cotton |
began to advance, owing to the block |
ade of the principal ports of the |
Southern States by the ships of the |
national government. Sea island, or
long staple cotton especially, which |
was then and is still raised almost ex-
on the low lands of Georgia |
and South Carolina, advanced in price
more rapidly than the up lands or
short staple, which was then as now
raised largely in other countries. See
ing an opportunity for engaging in
what promised to become a profitable
business, Mr.. Whitney sent to Wash
ngton and also to New York and pro-
cured, at considerable expense, several
bags OF genuine, long-staple cotton,
guaranteed to be from the best Geor-
sla and South Carolina sea islands.
This seed was distributed, without
charge, as called for by natives and
oreigners living throughout the
group, under q written contract with |
hr. Whitney to purchase at cents
)ound all the pure cotton in the seed
hat they would deliver in good con- ;
iition in Honolulu. Premiums were | {
Ilso offered to those who would raise |
md deliver the best and largest guam
ity during the year. These premiums
anged from five to fifty dollars each,
md in one year over two hundred dol !
ars were paid out in premiums alone | {
s an incentive to this new industry.
IA cotton house was erected in this {
Ity, twenty-four long staple cotton {
,ins imported from New York, fitted {
With treadles, and baling press pro-
-ided, to carry on the business in the {
anne manner as it was then and
probably still is conducted in Georgia. {
Both natives and foreigners engaged {
agerly in the new enterprise, which I
vas started on each Of the six princi l
al islands of the group, the finest I
Iants and the choicest fibre being l
reduced generally on the leeward I
lde Of each island, as KOna, on Ha- {
vail, kaupo district on Maui, etc. {
n one year, over a thousand bags or I
undles of cotton in the seed were re- !
elved at Mr.. Whitney's cotton house 6
n this city from various districts of &