The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-11
PRODUCTS AND POPULATION
SCHOOLS, FOREIGN LABOR AND THE
LEPROsY BUGABOO. q
Statistics of Our New Possessions
Furnished by Mary III. Krout and
Consul General Haywood.

Now that Hawaii has been finally an
nexed, after five years of discussion and de-
lay, there will no doubt be a revival of in
terest in the newly acquired territory. A
great deal has been written about the coun-
try, read and forgotten during this interval
and as there may possibly be an impetus
to emigration in that direction the public
mind may profit by summary of the situ-
alton. AS a rule, the seekers of homes in
new countries are of two classes-capitalists
with money to invest, or men seeking occu-
patton in the professions or as employees.
With stable government there is an exc
cellent field for investors who can afford
to wait for returns. The sugar lands, which
are the richest in the world, have been al
most all bought up and improved so that
unless stock may be had or plantations
purchased outright from their present own
ers there is not much outlook in this di-
rection. Sugar-raising is the main industry,
and has been since it was given such an inn
petus by the ratification of the reciprocity
treaty which was negotiated with the
United States during the reign of King
Kalakaua, in June, 1875. Under its provisions
Hawaiian sugar was to be admitted to
American markets free of duty. in return
for which Pearl harbor was temporarily
coded to the United States as coaling sta
ton for the use of its navy The cession OF
Pearl harbor was of no practical use TO
this government, as nothing was ever done
beyond making a survey of it, but the ISL
ands reaped rich benefits from their part
of the compact. M
At the time the treaty was ratified rs 0S0,-
1S2 barrels of sugar were exported, valued
at S1.216 3SS. 80; in 1895 the output had in
creased to 29474S,Sl9 barrels, for which
$ie,a 0,S5S. 81 was received. The effect on the
islands was immediate. From town of
few thousand inhabitants Honolulu became
d thriving city, with beautifully improved
parks and fine :nacadamized avenues. which
are kept scrupulously clean. The telephone
was introduced, tramways built, fine sys-
tenn of water works supplied and the
streets were lighted first win gas and then
with electricity. Fine residences, luxurious
" ntted up with furniture imported from
New York or Europe, took the places OF
the modest wooden cottages which the first
American residents fashioned after the old
New England pattern, painted white, with
green binds. Even in the remote planta-
tons fine villas were built, supplied with
baths and electric lights and all the modern
improvements, and the most lavish hospi-
tallty was extened the passing tourist.
LABOR IN THE ISLANDS.
The labor on the plantations has been
performed mainly by Japanese, under a
contract system, the divisions as to nations
ality in 1896 being as follows: Hawaiians,
522; Portuguese 40; Japanese 6602; Chi
nese, 1928, and Poynesians, IS. An effort has
been made TO induce the Portuguese 10 emf
CRATE in greater numbers, since it has been
found that, besides being extremely indus
trlous and thrifty they are much more
tractable than The japanese. The treaty
under which Japanese Iaborers have been
imported gives The iaborer every advantage
he
over ms employer, fact of which he very
soon becomes aware. One of the most mn
poftant or The new Plantations is IN Oahu
near honolulu, which was Incorporated in
loSO at $l,SVJJv0, ana when promises 10 ba
extremely productive.
Ihe Cultivation of coffee under favorable
CONDITIONS promises 10 rival cane gro wing
hano ccnee-the indigenous conee OF tna
lSlandS--iS the nneSJ in the world having
the rich nayor of Mocha, with the strengtn
OF Java. but little more than enough mas
been raised 10 supply nome consumption, so
that comparatively little has been exported
ana II Is practically unknown except 10
those who have drunk il on the islands
Coffee culture requll es GOOD deal OF c.lpf-
tai, however, anu The painter must wait
IRON three to i've years before he can hope
70 realize anything upon his investment.
CoHee culture nevertheless is steadily
progressing, and there are now many thriv-
ing Plantations on the Islands OF Hawaii,
hdual and Maui. Pineapples are market
able IN ten months afted planting, and the
manufacture or guava Jelly on an extensive
scale ought TO be profitable since the elaya
grows Wild everywhere. The cultivation OF
rice is increasing, the export in 1895 reach
ing a total of S.5zS.O00 pounds, valued at $l55,-
1o4. The table of exports for that year,
besides. sugar, included bananas, coffee,
wool, hides, pineapples, goat and sheep
SKINS and taro four. and of the entire
amount 1904 per cent was sold in the
United States.
1t is hardly worth while for any one to
seek a foothoid in the professions, which are
quite as overcrowded in Honolulu and else
where in the islands as in the United States.
The physicians of the capital are not only
numerous. but skillful, keeping themselves
thoroughly informed; and the interpreters
of the law are equally able and active
There are more clerks than positions and
more stenographers than can ever hope TO
find employment, while there are shops OF
all kinds from dry goods to hardware with
book stores and jewelers. all as literally
stocked as any that are to be found in an
American city of the same number of In
habitants. Teaching as a profession is also
overcrowded, but there might be OPEN
ing for nurses, dressmakers or people quali-
fed to conduct a good boarding house on
tho American plan.
The journey from San Francisco to Homo
lulu, which occupies eight days, costs SIS.
or $125 the round trip-an expense few will
wish to incur unless they are travelling for
pleasure or are certain of employment after
they arrive Having the advantage as to
convenience, 1t Is more than pfoOdDe that
wherever there are vacancies they will be
secured by men and women on the Pacific
coast where there have been for the past
three or four years thousands of the unem-
ployed waiting an opportunity to mend their
broken fortunes.
THE POPULATION.
Aside from the unwiHingness of thousands
of Americans to annex the islands on the
ground that further requirement of terri
tory was not only inexpedient but undesir-
able, it has been opposed on the ground Of
the heterogeneous population of the country.
and because of the existence of leprosy
among the natives. 1t is true that the popu-
lation Is decidedly mixed. The census of 1896
showed a total population of 10000, OF
which 30,957 were natives. There had been
a general gain of 19030 with decrease of
3419 amongst the Hawaiians--a diminishing
that has steadily continued for twenty
years. and which nothing seems able to
check. In 1890 there were 47T0 Portuguese,
14.522 Chinese, 1000 Japanese, with a few
hundred British Germans. Norwegians and
Polynesians, aside from the Americans. It
would seem difficult and intractable mass
to harmonic and control. but the real
truth Is, that there Is not more peaceable
and law-abiding population in the world
waiians TO stir up revolution wherein rival
factions contend for supremacy But even
these uprisings have been marked by little
Violence, less than dozen lives having been
lost In the eight that have occurred within
the past twenty years in which neither
Japanese, Chinese nor Portuguese have par
tcipated and Ia which Americans and Eu-
ropeans took action only to protect prop
erty and preserve order. The graver crimes
are exceedingly rare A murder was COM
mitfed in 1928, shortly after the Queen was