Evening star., 1896-01-25


side entirely until actual annexation is
consummated After that event all par
ties would reconcile themselves to the In
| evitable, and most Of them would find the
situation eminently satisfactory and take
OF considerable Importance among the
very favorable features Of the present
political situation Is the quite satisfactory
state OF the public finances. Extraordinary
expenditures growing out OF the insurrec-
ton in January and from the cholera in
september had seriously depleted the treas
ury and bills against the government re-
manned unpaid for three or four months.
Treasury receipts were also materially les
sened by the injury to commercial business,
which was more or less suspended at the
time Of those disastrous occurrences. 1t is
most satisfactory to report that the treas
ury is now completely replenished and all
liabilities fully met up to date. The rapid
ity OF this improvement is due to the fact
that a large proportion of the taxes are
collected In the month Of December. Hav-
Ing once made up the deficiency, however,
the treasury Is likely to keep even here
after and to gain surplus as before.
The only unsettled claim of the British
government in behalf Of its subjects in
volyed In the insurrection is that for Col
v. v. Ashford, who had been convicted of
mIisprision OF treason, but afterward re-
leased on account Of i'll health, on condition
OF leaving the country. He has remained
in California. The law advisers of that
government on reviewing the evidence at
conviction, the chief witness being Now
lein, who was states evidence and con-
federate In the crime, although his testi-
mony was circumstan TALLY confirmed by
Ashford's commission by Liliuokalani as
associate justice Of the supreme court, not
withstanding his fearful vilifcation Of her
year and half previous, to be found
Blounts report. She evidently was paying
high price for his admitted military skill.
Ashford to he Released.
To this objection from London Mr. Hatch
replied by submitting some new evidence
in the form Of a very strong aff1iavit by
weli-known native woman long in intimate
relations with Ashford. This testified to
his being thoroughly involved in the con-
spiracy, giving much characteristic Ian
guage used by him, such as the woman
could not possibly have invented herself.
inis additional testimony has, however,
also been rejected. on the ground that the
same witness at the trial had strongly tes-
tined to his Innocence. For some reason
All that the British government asks is
the remission of the sentence. For the
sake or am1cable settlement this will doubt
less De accorded. and Col. Ashford will
soon be at liberty to return to Honolulu.
His brother, c. w. Ashford, a former cabi-
net minister, being a naturalizad Hawaiian.
could not appeal against his stern subjec-
tion to exile. He is fully believed ty this
government to be in confe1eracy with the
conspirators, Sheridan and Underwood
They are particularly averse to having him
return here on any conditions
1t has generally been accepted as a fact
tnat about all the lands available in these
islands for raising sugar cane had already
been occupied and that hence no very great
augmentation of the annual yield was to be
nopea Tor. 1t was plain, however, that there
We're remaining hundreds of thousands of
acres or excellent soil adapted to other
productions. Large tracts on Hawaii hay-
ing abundant moisture were too rough and
rocky for cane, but admirable for coffee
Elsewhere were excellent lands receiving
lnsu1hclent moisture, since cane needs
about eight inches OF water a month ali
tne year round. From time to time facili-
Ties Tor irrigation have been improved and
systems OF ditching and piping have con-
Veyed streams to remote and arid tracts.
winch are now smiling in the rank yerdure
ui,,,, vi sugar cane. Elsewhere huge steam
pumps hft water from 100 to POO feet, re-
claiming other half desert lands. 1t is
really difficult to say where these improve
ments will be arrested by insuperable ob-
,htae SIZES =, a new scSeme is now mooted.
Whlcn is not unliS16y to add 6OODl tons a
year TO the sugar crop of Oahu alone or
over thirty per cent to the whole Weld of
this group. N
Irrigation Schemes.
Between Pearl harbor and the northwest
shore of this island lies a remarkably
smooth tract, about half of which is a quite
level region, from 600 to $50 feet above the
sea. 1t Is bounded by mountain range on
each SIDE, and slopes off rather gently to
elmer sho- e. Much Of the soil is of superior
quality. 1t IS certain in the future To ha
devoted to agriculture, since there is in most
winters ample moisture for the production
OF crops maturing in from three to five
montns. During half the year the lower
levels are quite arid and the upper IeveIs
scant OF rain, so that sugar cane is appar-
entity out of the question. At the shores
however, at either border are enormous
Quantities OF water escaping into the sea
from springs. A moderate estimate counts
the supply ample to irrigate 1900 acres of
cane, or enough for an annual crop of co coo
s'l,. Ions. me water could be impounded by
eykes along the shores or could be taken
from artesian wells, as is done for 2 600 low
Iylng acres at Eva plantation, Just beyond
Pearl loche. wy oAo
But no one has supposed that this water
at sea level could be profitably lifted Aoo
60 or 500 feet. There was the land ana
close by was the water to make # fruitfuI.
put to unite the two seemed as impractica,
bic as to bridge the Pacific ocean Now to
our surprise, we are being told that A. 49, ~
pe done. Mr.. B. F. Dillingham;. orr ereat
railway promoter, announces that Iesdine
pump manufacturers have supplied figures
and specifications. with guarantees for NO.
ter to be raised to height of 65O fo S5o fae+
(With coal at such price as 1t can he SIM.
plied on this island at cost that will mate
sugar. sugar raising on good soil profitable at the
lowest price 1t has ever netted the average
producer on these islands,"
II the waters now running to waste on the
shores OF Eva and Waialua can thus he
united to the best parts Of the fifty thousanS
acres OF level upland lying between IT means
a trebiing of the sugar product of this 10.
!and or oahu, and a not distant douhlinp of
It's population. When annexation takes
place the importation Of contract Iaborers
from China and Japan must cease Ameri.
can and European farmers will come in and
cultivate sugar cane on shares for the mills
Those cool, breezy uplands will make de-.
Ightful homesteads for such a population
Less than half the lands can be sunnlied
with constant irrigation. With forty or AZ
ty INCHES OF winter rains, the larger half Of
the district will be adapted to farms for
raising hay, vegetables, maize, oats. fruit
poultry and dairy products. For these tbe
sugar plantations will create a large home
market Besides this, not less than mill.
ion tons Of shipping are likely annually 70
frequent Pearl harbor after the Isthmian
canal Is opened. The prospective farms will
De In the immediate vicinity, and will find a
large market for their products from these
ships. A '"ese
1t Is one of the advantages Of Pearl bar-
Dor that it is not only favored with cool
breezes and the best Of flesh water. but is
l