Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-07-15
Part of the u. S.

The Hawaiian islands, now a part of
the United States, are made up of the
islands of Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Kauai,
Lanai, Kaluane, Molokal, Nihau, Kaula
and a number of small islets. The area
of the islands is G,G4O miles, or about
three times that of Delaware.
According to the figures of two years
ago something over lO5 1000 souls are
added to the population of the United
States and it's territories by the annexa-
ton of the islands. OF the white
and native population about one
third speak English. The Japanese
number $4,000 and the Chinese 10000.
There are $4,000 Portuguese in the islands
and 5000 Americans, while the British
and German residents number 1000
each. Late figures on the native popula-
ton give it as 10000, but the natives
are rapidly decreasing in number.
Eight of the islands are fertile and
susceptible to cultivation. The four
largest-Hawaii, Maui. Oahu and Kauai
--are particularly rich, Astounding in
land fitted for sugar, coffee, rice and
fruit raising. On Kauai there are coffee
plantations of 100000 acres, and, next
to sugar, which has been the chief pro.
duct of the islands, the cultivation of
coffee is looked upon as having rich posi-
bilities. Rice is also destined to hold
an important position among the pro-
ducts.
The islands have complete systems of
public elementary education, and the
entire population, with the exception of
the Orientals and some of the Portu-
guese, has had a training in the public
schools.
The harbor of Honolulu and Pearl
harbor can be made impregnable from
land and sea, and rendered the best
naval stations in the world. Pearl har-
Dor is six miles from the capital.
Large tracts Of government lands still
abound and are rapidly being. opened
for settlement.
Practically all of the trade is with the
United States. The exports are sS,OOO,-
600 annually and the imports half that.
The history of the islands begins with
their discovery in ITS by Captain Cook
who named them after his patron, the
Earl Of Sandwich. Juan Gaetano, a
Spanish navigator, is credited with hay
ing seen the island of Hawaii as early
as 1856.
Civil troubles broke out in the islands
in 1894, under Kamehameha, who could
not cope with the revolutionists and
placed the island under British protec-
ton. Americans did not settle in the
islands in any numbers until 1920. when
a party of missionaries from the United
States arrived.
Friendly relations quickly developed
between the islands and their nearest
largest neighbor, and when in 1941
! France assumed a threatening attitude
the king of the Hawaiian islands drew
up and signed a contingent deed of ces-
sion Of the islands to the United States
and placed it sealed in the hands of the
United States commissioner who was to
break the seal and act upon the provis-
ions Of the deed the moment a hostile
shot was fired by the French.
Great Britian's flag hoated over
Hawaii for five months in 1912 because
of a fraudulent claim by a British sub
iect named Carlton, but the British
Jack was hauled down as soon as the
fraud was established.
Annexation of the islands to the
United States was asitated in Hawaii as
early as 1858, and the question has come
up at various times aver since.
The recent revolution and overthrow
OF the monarchy are matters of today's
history.