The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-08-27
LAND FACTS HERE
Aren't J. +. Brown Furnishes
Clear Statement.
WHAT FARMING PROSPECTS ARE
Coffee-Little or No Land Available
lust Now-System-No Field for
Land SpecuIation-Dont's.
Commission of Public Lands.

Honolulu, II. l., Aug. 26, 1898.
EDITOR P. c. ADVERTISER.
Sir:-The natural interest taken in
Hawaiian matters by the people of the
Great Republic, and the tendency
which exists with many of look for
great and golden opportunities in the
distance. is apt to tempt to these ISL
ands a considerable number of people
who are i'll informed, or not at all in
formed, of true conditions here. and
many of whom must be disappointed
1t is with the desire to clearly set
forth the conditions at least as far as
regards the public lands of the Islands,
that l ask for a little space in your
paper, in the hope that the statements
made may come to the attention of
some of those intending to try their
fortunes in Hawaii.
First it should be noted that Hawaii
is not a new country with great un-
broken areas of public lands awaiting
the settler For half century de-
finite system of land division and own
ership has existed, and for that long
period transactions in public and priv
ate lands have steadily taken place as
in all civilized countries. The policy
of selling lands outright for cash at
low figures, and Of making long leases
OF large tracts, was steadily carried out
from the early "ffties' until the date
of the Land Act of 1895, and the result
! is easily inferred. A large portion of
what might be called the Cream" Of
the Government lands had at the latter
! date passed into the hands of private
| owners, and long leases have been
| made covering the most valuable Gov
| ernment and Crown lands, many of
which leases are still in force. 1t was
| to conserve and devote to the use OF
! bona fide'' settlers the remaining pub
! lie land, that the Land Act of 1895 was
passed, which Act, eminently suited to
the conditions of the case, is in force
at this date.
To carry out the purpose of this Act,
public lands have as fast as practicable
been divided and opened up. AS there
has been for the past two years a keen
demand for such lands, both on the
I
of new comers, it has followed that all
| tracts have been taken up as soon as
opened, and at the present date there is
practically no land ready for the Occu-
patton of any considerable number OF
new comers The survey work which
over rough mountain lands and
through dense tropical jungle, is at all
times a labOrious and slow process
| was interrupted at the end of 1897 by
the exhaustion of appropriations for
that purpose, and has only been re-
Gently resumed upon the passage OF
new appropriations. 1t is inevitable
that some time must elapse before ne
cessary. surveys can be completed. The
new lands are off the lines Of travel;
much difficulty is encountered IN pro
iecting roads to reach them and the
task all around, is difficult one whicf
one unfamiliar with the country cdI
not easily estimate.
The lands laid out and disposed o
since the date of the 1895 Land Ac
have been those portions most favor
ably situated, and those remaining ar
of course still further removed from
centers of population and lines o
travel To settle upon and to improY
such lands is no soft snap
To residents of the Islands 1T is we
known. but for the information
= others it is necessary to state that, q
x far as cane lands and sugar cultlYS
Q ton is concerned, there is PRACTICAL
d no opening except for large capitalist
|. and for few, if any, of those.
Y The field is occupied by those WI
e for forty years have been developiT
: this industry, extending and consol
/ dating their interests.
d The low lying fat land of the countl
/ with abundant water supply, conslt
e cradle part of the whole, is wholly o
cupied by rice or taro planters, WI
have engaged in those planting occ'
nations for many years
There does remain still, conside
: able area to be disposed of as surye!
> are completed and as old leases e.
" Dira. principally of lands suited
" coffee cultivation and small farming.
\ With reference to lands suited
o. coffee cultivation it may be said, tn
q the same are in general forest and bus
, 1andc reouiring much labor and e,