The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-09-21
Perhaps Good Corn Might
be Raised.
Good Highways Have Assisted ir
the Process of Developing
the Country.

Hawaii has great tracts of unde-
veloped country, and there is no rea-
son why a large population could not
easily get a living out of the Island,
said Representative Cannon yesterday
afternoon. He was resting in his cot
tage at the Hotel after the trip around
the harbor in the morning, and the
ride to the Pail during the day. The
Congressman have kept busily at sight
seeing since their arrival in the Isl
ands, and they are somewhat fatigued,
although everything they have seen
has been interesting.
Congressman Cannon's face is well
Drowned from exposure to the sun and
winds, as the party has been out of
doors the greater part of the time since
they reached Honolulu. Mr.. Cannon
is also suffering from bruised side.
AS he was climbing into the wagonette
in the rain on leaving Tantalus, Sun
day afternoon, he had the misfortune
to slip on the step. He fell and struck
heavily on his side, and painful con-
fusion is the result.
Congressman Cannon said he was
greatly pleased with all he has seen
thus far. The climate, the soil and the
rainfall, he said, greatly increased the
possibilities of the country. The beau
" of the landscape, the luxuriant YER
dure and tropical foliage are all I'M
usual to him, he said. He is accustom-
ed to the vast corn and grain-produc-
ing plains of Illinois, and the contrast
of that rolling country. with the pre-
cipitous and soft-tinted mountains and
the rich-soiled valleys and lowlands OF
the Islands is startling. 1t is unlike
anything he has seen before.
The Congressman was well pleased
with his visit to Hawaii and the Vol
cano. They were fortunate while they
were there TO see the Volcano in ac-
ton. Madam Pele was on exhibition
She had put on her best bib and tuck
er for the occasion and gracefully
courtesied for the gentlemen. She die
not overdo the thing and yawn ant
cause the earth to quake, but executed
some of her most graceful steps ant
behaved in a thoroughly volcano-lady
like manner.
The Congressman had a good oppor
tunity of getting just the sort of infor
nation which they were seeking; tn,
information that will be of service Il
the farmers in the United States ant
prospective settlers in the Islands. Il
Hilo they met the men who have beer
most influential in developing the sur
rounding country, the pioneers, Wit
know the difficulties and are vel
versed in the question of expense. MI
Cannon thinks Hawaii a wonderful.
productive country. The coffee indus
try he considers in the development
stage He sees no reason why
should not become a great industry
But coffee need not necessarily be tn
only production of the Island. From
the nature OF the soil and the climati
conditions, he thinks vegetables of al
kinds should grow well. Potatoes o
both kinds and the products Of the mar
ket gardens, and even corn will -four
ish he thinks. The corn may not be o
as fine a quality as the corn of tn
West, because it might not harden an
be as firm in this climate, but it woul
certainly be good feed for cattle.
Representative Cannon considers tn
80 miles of road TO the Volcano an eX
cellent one. II is his opinion that
good highway is almost as serviceabl
in developing the country as the eleC
trio road has been in the suburbs c
American cities. Its effect is alread
in evidence on Hawaii in the numbe
of houses that have been built along i
and the little pieces of land that ar
being cleared. To hasten the develop
ing process he suggests that branc
roads be built off the main highwa
for at least six miles into the interior
Mr.. Cannon is much interested i
Pearl Harbor He will have an oppoI
tunity today of making thorough in
spection. He explained the cause
leading up TO the debate on the subjeI
in the House of Representatives an
the reason for the refusal of the Hous
to make large enough appropriate
to fortify the harbor. at was pei
feetly natural result" he said IAN
there were several good reasons VIII
the subject was treated as it was.
the first place, the Hawaiian questio
was by no means settled. There was
controversy on the subject, and Ii
House did not wish to take hasty a.
ton or TO preeipitate matters. 1t VIZ
proposition which entailed consider;
BILE expense and the appropriations ha
already been large. Then, too, Il
members believed that they hadn't Il
e s-f d
they should possess before taking a
ton. It was thought best to make a
appropriation to obtain that inform;