The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-09-21
PRETTY PROSPECT
Applying a California Precedent
to This Island.
FRUIT FARMS FOR OAHU
History of a Section of the Coast
State-Pasadena and Neighbor-
ing Cities in Point.

Mr.. EDITOR:-We have on numer-
Oous occasions called the attention of
this paper to the thousands of acres of
uncultivated land in our charming lit
tie valleys in the neighborhood of Ho-
nolulu, also the quantity of land on
the Island of Oahu held by a few in
dividuals, and it is the honest con-
viction of those who are disinterested
spectators and have a knowledge of
the facts that there can be no moral
wrong committed in compelling these
large land owners either to sell, i'm
prove or subdivide their holdings.
The writer being a pioneer Of the
State of California, remembers well
how large tracts of land, known as
the Spanish grants, were acquired in
the early days of that State by San
Francisco capitalists. Large acreage
of the very best land in the Southern
counties these men came into posses
sion of under foreclosure of mortgage,
ETC., from the Spanish aIcaIdes for al
most nothing. The mining excitement
being at its height-the population |
being spare, this condition of affairs
was not noticeable until immigration
set in on an extensive scale when it
was found that the best land in these
counties had been largely acquired by
individuals and held by wealthy people
Tor speculation. Most of this land ac-
quired remained unimproved. This
.+rA0 - efC,sv L
of years till finally the people became |
thoroughly aroused and by wise and |
peaceful legislation reduced these i'm
mense grants, compelling the large
land owners to either sell, improve or |
subdivide their grants, and the beauti- |
full cities of Southern California, Riv- |
erside, San BernardinO, Redlands, Pas
adena, Alamanda Park, Santa Monica. |
Sierra Madre, are the results, where |
of dollars of horticultural pro-
ducts aare produced yearly. Having
all the facilities why could we not like
wise build up a few of these fashion
able pleasure and health resorts on
the Island of Oahu? We have been a
frequent visitor to the Waialua and
valleys and we are satisfied |
there could be located today a second
Pasadena, which had a population of
5000 wealthy inhabitants Pasadena
was not founded as a town but de-
yelOped from a fruit-growing colony,
on a cooperative plan by
| company of gentlemen from Indian
lpOlis, Indiana, in 1874. They planted
orange and lemon groves, built com
Ortable homes and in a few years
Ound their settlement attracting wide
notice on account Of it's picturesque s
,
The shore line of the beautiful Wal :
llua valley from the point to Waimea 7
liver is about sixteen miles, sIoping
Jack to a width of half a mile to four 7
niles, embracing probably an area of +
70, 200 acres or more. Up in the noun :
aims are charming little valleys, which
will produce all tropical and semi \
rOpical fruits grown in any part of :
he world. We all know that our ,
hOicest oranges are the WaiaIua. Lem s
ms, lines, pOmOlO or grape fruit, aIli- +
,atOr pears, mangOes, ichee, dates, CO. {
Oanuts, bananas and vegetables of all
kinds can be produced aud there is no
easOn why we should not have a sec
md Pasadena if the Waialua land was
divided into small hOmesteadS from I
wO, five to ten acres, but this can only :
De done on a cooperative plan. In I
Sweden they have the Raeffeisen sys-
EN- Of Cooperative Agricultural Cred
t Association to prevent the small
and owners from falling into the
lands Of the money lenders and they
advance money only for the purpose of
3gricultural benefit and the society
;ees that the money is expended for the
purpose for which the advance was
made. This society has a scientist,
who visits the small farms once a
month and instructs them in new
methods Of agriculture and procures
for them new labor saving machines,
better breeds of cattle, etc, etc. Fred
7rick Raeffeisen, mayor Of the town
Of FIammersfeId started this system
His object was to rescue the small
farmers from the oppressive grip of
-he money lender, and it has proved a
marvellous success.
Why could we not have an Atherton,
Baldwin or Ena system Of Land Credit
Association in Hawaii? It IS the best
system known for farmers and for the
public who might invest in the de-
)enture Of such association. For many
/