The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-01-29
FOR ANNEXATION
Major PangbOrn Favorable to the
Scheme.
WRITES TO THE new YORK SUN
The Commercial Value of
Hawaii to the u. S.
WRITES To THE new YORK SUN
Plan of GoVernme for the Islands.
gratiOn-InduStrieS.

Maj. u. S. Panghorn of Jersey Cit,
has written a long letter to the New
York Sun regarding the Hawaiian sit
uation, portion of which is published
below. Major Pangborn is so wei
known in the States that his opinion
| of the people here will be accepted by
many who have heretofore been in ig-
norance regarding the Islands. He
said in part:
First let me correct several enron
eous impressions and opinions which
are prevalent in this country in rela-
ton to the Hawaiian Islands, now
known and recognized by the civilized
world as the Hawaiian Republic.
First Hawaii is not a poor country
Second-Hawaii is not an inaccessi-
BILE, far-away country.
Third-Hawaii is not an uncivilized
and still less is it heather country.
Fourth-Hawaii is not, in view Of
its possible, and 1 think, certain, fut-
ure development and growth in agri-
cultural and commercial wealth, an in
significant or unimportant part of the
civilized world.
teal status of Hawaii is not a matter
of slight Importance to the people and
Government of the United States. On
the contrary, it is a subject of vital in
terest, to which the United States
should be neither Indifferent nor in
active.
No country can be considered or rat
ed as poor whose soil is capable of sup
porting in comfort a dense population;
whose commercial position and facili-
ties are exceptionally good, and where
applied industry insures ready and
ample rewards. These conditions ex-
list in Hawaii. OF the total area of the
Islands, nearly 1000 square miles
equal to the combined acreage of the
two States of Connecticut and Della
war-a portion consists of rugged
ranges of mountains of lava rock,
which, in its present state, is incapable
of cultivation, but the remainder, and
the larger portion is arabic and cult
vatable soil of unusual fertility in the
valleys and many localities on the sea
coast, while the dry plains are readily
made fertile by irrigation. The lands
where sugar cane can be raised are the
most productive of any in the world,
ar acre of good sugar land in Hawaii,
'
much per acre as any lands in Louis
lana or Cuba. OF these lands, availa-
bic for sugar raising nearly two-thirds
are already under cultivation, and large !
profits are realized. The remainder is |
not yet utilized.
The cultivation of rice, two crops of |
which are harvested annually, isNvery |
profitable, the product being of an eX-
,ellent grade and commanding a good !
price in the market; by utilizing the |
rice growing lands, which are as yet |
this product can re |
largely increased.
The raising of cattle is, in some of |
he islands, extensively and profitably |
carried on; at some periods 1t has |
ranked third in the value of total pro-
luct among Hawaiian industries. In |
several localities sheep raising is the !
principal industry; the pasturage ior |
both cattle and sheep is abundant. |
The food plants and fruit trees of Ha-
vail are numerous; some Indigenous |
others imported, all of value and cas-
ly cultivated; and in bananas, pine
apples and cocoanuts, a profitable ex-
port trade is carried on, the product |
being in excess of the demand for
home consumption. The taro plant.
native Hawaiians, the sweet potato and |
he yam grow in abundance, and any
body in Hawaii can have grapes. figs
guava and Ohea apples,
pears and papaia fruit for
he trouble of cultivating them.
But among the more recently devel-
,ped, and in the near future most prof
table. industries of Hawaii is the
yrowing of coffee. 1t offers TO the ag-
'iCulturist special inducements. C0f-
&c of a very fine quality can be grown
n the gulches and on the uplands and |
mountains up to at least $500 feet
bove the sea level: extensive tracts
II land suited for coffee raising are
,btainable at a very moderate cost of
rom so to $50 per acre, and many in
-estments have recently been made in
his industry which promises to speed
" dpUp1nO into active r-ix- 1rI- fCr |