The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-09-21
PRODUCTIVE SOIL
Representative Cannon Thinks
Hawaii Possesses ii.
VEGETABLES SHOULD DO WELL
Perhaps Good Corn Might
be Raised.
Good Highways Have Assisted in
the Process of Developing
the Country.

Hawaii has great tracts Of unde-
son why 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 we'll
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
ty of the landscape, the luXuriant YER
dure and tropical foliage are all un-
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 did
not overdo the thing and yawn and
cause the earth to quake, but executed
some of her most graceful steps and
behaved in thoroughly volcano-1ady-
like manner.
The Congressman had good oppor
tunity of getting just the sort Of infor-
nation which they were seeking; the
information that will be of service to
the farmers in the United States and
prospective settlers in the Islands. In
Hilo they met the men who have been
most influential in developing the sur
rounding country, the pioneers, who
know the difficulties and are we'll
versed in the question of expense Mr..
Cannon thinks Hawaii a wonderfully
productive country. The coffee indus
try he considers in the development
stage. He sees no reason why it
should not become a great industry.
But coffee need not necessarily be the
only production of the Island From
the nature of the soil and the climatic
conditions, he thinks vegetables of all
kinds should grow we'll. Potatoes of
both kinds and the products Of the mar
ket gardens, and even corn will flour
ish, he thinks. The corn may not be of
as fine a quality as the corn of the
West, because it might not harden and
be as firm in this climate, but it would
certainly be good feed for cattle.
Representative Cannon considers the
80 miles of road to the Volcano an ex-
cellent one. 1t is his opinion that
good highway is almost as serviceable !
in developing the country as the cleo !
trio road has been in the suburbs of |
American cities. Its effect is already
in evidence on Hawaii in the number |
of houses that have been built along it, |
and the little pieces of land that are
being cleared. To hasten the develop |
ing process he suggests that branch |
roads be built off the main highway |
for at least six miles into the interior |
Mr.. Cannon is much interested in !