New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-21
H4WIITlN COFFEE.

Senator Morgan. OF Alabama. Democrat
whose independence Of spirit and desire for def
mite knowledge Of the subjects on which he has
TO act have made him valuable legislator. con-
tributes one Of the most important facts In the
Hawaiian discussion by his speech on Nednes-
day. In this case. as in some others, he speaks
from personal investigation, having visited the
Hawaiian Islands last year. and he shows that
while the prOductiveness Of the islands in cane
sugar has probably reached It's limit. they are
capable Of producing enormous quantities OF cof-
fee The sugarproducing capacity Of tho isl
ands has. in fact. been fully tested Under d.
rectlon of German and other foreign capital,
with the advantage Of cheap cody labor i'm
ported without, limit the production was for
years greatly increased. and yet the sugar could
not be sold. even on the Pacihc Coast, at such
prices as to prevent n relatively more rapid in
crease of sugar.beet production in California and
other Pacific States. As the beet culture ad-
vances and the methods of manufacture become
more thorough and economical, it is not TO be ex-
pected that capital will find its most advanta-
geous employment or the Hawaiian Islands in
the production of sugar. especially as the cost of
that production must increase because the i'm
portat.on and employment Of cody or contract
labor Will have to cease after annexation.
But in the fiscal year 1896 this country paid
SAS1S.390 for coffee imported. and in 1897 the
value Of a much greater quantity was ssh
IA 63l. In ten months Of the last calendar
year the imports were 100000 pounds. and
the cost SGi. 137.952 II Senator Morgan is
rightly informed the Hawaiian Islands have n
vast quantity Of land eminently adapted to the
production of coffee, and it may turn out that
more profitable occupation for American and
foreign capital will be found in coffee raising
than in any other industry. More than thirty
years ago the production OF coffee in Hawaii
became so successful that considerable quaint
ties were exported -i1j.000 pounds in 1870; but
a light attacked the trees which was not met
with the knowledge and the energy with which
1t has since been met in other coffee growing
countries and the lands were generally turned
to the production OF sugar. But the climatic
conditions being wholly favorable. the produc
ton has again been developed SO that Senator
Morgan now believes 100000 pounds will be
exported from the Islands during the present
year. and he is Informed that at least 10000
acres of land are perfectly adapted to this in
dustry.
The Senator declares his belief that these
islands which are so necessary to the future
protection Of the United States and its COM
merce that they might well be acquired even
at great cost If quite unprOductive will in
time be able 10 supply all coffee required for
consumption in the United States. This is the
deliberate statement OF a Senator who has given
70 the subject more careful investigation than
most men have found possible and whose party
associates. generally arrayed on the opposite
side have not inclined him to a prejudgment
in favor Of annexation. II Is worth while 10
consider wha; difference it would make in the
financial relations between this and other cOun
tries II the United States should no longer be
obliged 10 settle in London every year by pay
ment 10 foreign bankers for $50 900 900 worth
Of coffee imported. Even II the payment TO
other countries should he reduced by only half
OF that large sum. ii would add 10 the wealth
OF the United States more than all the gold
mines added in twenty-One Of the last twenty
six years While this is not the only Industry
In which the Hawaiian Islands are found profit
able II is one which IS by far the largest re-
naming source OF annual Indebtedness 10 for
e!gn countries, the sugar importation excepted
II adequately supplied by beet sugar and Ha-
waiian coffee. this country would cut off rs
obligations 10 other countries by more than
S170.OOO.000 yearly.