The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-08-27
COMMISSION OF PUBLIC LANDS,
Ii IL 4

L
SIR The natural interest taken
in Hawaiian matters by the people
Of the Great Republic, and the
tendency which exists with many to
look for great and golden opportu-
mites in the distance, is apt to tempt
to these Islands considerable num-
ber OF people who are i'll informed,
or not at all informed, of true con.
ditions here, aud many of whom
must be disappointed.
1t is with the desire to clearly set
forth the condition, at least as far
as regards the public lands of the
Islands, that | ask for 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 Ha-
waii is not "new" country with
great unbroken areas of public lands
awaiting the settler. For half a
century definite system of land
division and ownership has existed,
aud for that long period transactions
in public and private lands have
81 eadily taken place as in all civil
lied countries. The policy of sell
ing lands outright for cash at low
figures, aud Of making long leases
of large tracts, was steadily carried
out from the early "fifties" until the
date of the Land Act OF 1896, 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 Government 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 public land,
that the Land Act OF 1895 was pass
ed, 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 keen demand for such
lands, both on the part of old resi-
dents of the country and 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
Tor the occupation Of any consider
able number Of new comers. The
survey work which over rough
mountain lands and through dense
tropical jungle, is at all times a
laborous and slow process, was in
terrupted at the end of 1897 by he
exhaustion of appropriations for that
purpose, and has only been recently
resumed upon the passage of new
appropriations. 1t is inevitable that
some time must elapse before neces-
sary surveys can be completed. The
new lands are off the lines OF travel I;
much difficulty is encountered in
projecting roads to reach them and
the task all around, is difficult one
which one unfamiliar with the coun-
try can not easily estimate.
The lands laid out and disposed
OF since the date OF the 1896 Land
Act have been those portions most
favorably situated, and those re-
naming are of course still further
removed from oenters of population
and lines OF travel. To settle upon
and to improve such lands is no
"soft snap"
To residents OF the Islands it is
we'll known, but for the information
OF others it is necessary to state that,
as far as cane lands aud sugar Guilt
vation is concerned, there is practi-
cally no opening except for large
capitalists, and for few, if any, Of
thynas