The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-10-29
WHAT FARMING PROSPECTS ARE
Coffee-LittIe or No Land Available
Just Now System-No Field for
Land SpecuIation-Dont
Commission OF Public Lands.
Honolulu. II. l., Aug. -. 1895.
EDITOR p. c. ADVERTISER.

Hawaiian matters by the people OF the
Great Republic, and the tendency
which exists with many 10 look for
great and golden opportunities in the
distance, is apt TO tempt TO these Isl
ands a considerable number OF people
who are III informed, or not at all in
formed, OF true conditions here, and
many OF whom must be disappointed.
Ii is with the desire 10 clearly set
forth the conditions At least as far As
regards the public lands OF the Islands,
that 1 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 new" country with great I'M
broken areas OF public lands awaiting
the settler. For half century a 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 ~
low figures, and OF making long leases
OF large tracts, was steadily carried out
from the early 'fifties" until the date
OF the Land Act of 1895. and the result
is easily inferred. \ 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
eminent and Crown lands. many of
which leases are still in force. II was
10 conserve and devote TO the use OF
bona fide" settlers the remaining pub
lie land, that the Land Act OF 1895 was
the conditions OF the case. Is in force
at this date.
To carry out the purpose OF this Act.
public lands have as last 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
part OF old residents d 'he country and
OF new corners, it has followed that all
tracts have been taken up as soon IS
opened, and at the present date there is
practically no land ready for the occu-
patton OF any considerable number Of
new corners. The surrey work which
over rough mountain lands AM
through dense tropical jungle. is a. al
times a la5orious and slow process.
was interrupted a. the end OF 1897 hy
the exhaustion OF appropriations for
that purpose, and has only been -
Gently resumed upon the passage OF
rev appropriations. Il j. inevitable
that some time must elapse before ne
Cessary surveys can be completed. The
new lands are of the lines OF travel.
much difficulty Is encountered IN pro
iectinE roads 10 reach them ant the
task all around, is a difficult one which
che unfamiliar with he country can
not easily estimate.
The lands laid out and disposed OF
since the date Of the 1895 Land Act
have been those portions most favor
ably situated, and those remaining are
OF course still further removed from
centers of population and lines .:
travel. To settle upon and % improve
: such lands is no soft snap"
To residents Of the Islands IL IS well
known, but for the information OF
others it is necessary 10 state that. as
far as cane lands and sugar cultiya-
ton is concerned, there IS practically
2 no opening except for large capitalists.
| and for few, If any, OF those.
The field i occuDiaI by- those who
5 for forty years have been developing
this industry, extending and consoli-
? dating their interests.
I The low lying fat land OF the country
= with abundant water supply. q consid-
= cradle part OF the whole is wholly oc-
: cupied by rice or taro planters. VINO
, have engaged in those planting occu-
= pations for many years.
D There does remain still. consider
= able area TO be disposed OF Is surveys
are completed and As old leases ex-
pire. principally OF lands suited 10
coffee cultivation and small farming.
With reference 20 lands suited 20
coffee cultivation IL may be said. that
: the same are in genera! forest and bush
a lands. requiring much labor and ex-
: .pense is clearing. Being IN general.
$ away from present main lines OF travel.
:. they are at a disadvantage as regards
: roads. and It Is inevitable that for some
! time trails more or less rough. must
take the place OF wagon roads. For