The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-11
CONDENSED STATISTICS.
Mass of Information Furnished by a
Washington Bureau.


CONDENSED STATISTICS.
Mass of Information Furnished by a
Washington Bureau.
Special to tbs indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, July 10.-The latest and
fullest information relative to the newly
acquired territory of the United States the
Hawaiian islands, has just been given to
the public in a special publication by the
Bureau of Statistics. 1t consists of series
OF statements relative to the people of the
islands, their number, nativity occupations,
productions, expectations, purchases from
other parts of the world the share which
the United States has in their commerce,
the methods of raising revenue and the
amount annually collected and disbursed
the indebtedness, currency, postal system,
railroads and shipping. freight and passen-
ger rates to and from the United States,
wages paid in various employments. and
prices of provisions and other necessaries
Of life. A part of this information is in the
form of statistical statements of the COM
merce of the islands during a long period
of years, a portion from the Hawaiian
Year Book and other publications of that
character, and a part from a late report
to the State Department by Consul General
Haywood and which, taken together, present
the latest and most complete statement of
the conditions and business prospects in our
new territory that has been given to the
public.
Hawaii, it is shown by this statement at
present imports almost everything she uses,
aside, of course, from sugar, coffee and
fruits, attention having been almost ex-
cluSively given to the raising of sugar all
or which. aside from that consumed in the
ISLANDS, is exported to the United States.
Indeed the United States in 1856 took S9.64
per cent. of the entire exports of the ISL
ands and supplied 1927 per cent. of all i'm
ports. and Consul General Haywood, in his
report, expresses the opinion that in case
OF annexation over So per. cent. of the i'm
ports INTO the ISLANDS would be the growth,
product, or manufacture of the United
States, and adds that if the American tariff
were in force in the islands about $50OOC0
worth of imports which now enter free of
duty and are bought in countries other
than the United States would be bought
from this country the free importation of
tertlllZers and coal alone in 1896 amounting
to S466319.
The opportunities for travel between the
United States and Hawaii are described by
Consul General HAYWOOD VINO says the bulk
of the steam passenger and freight traffic
between San Francisco and Honolulu is con-
trolled by the Oceanic Steamship Company,
its rates being SIS cabin passage and $25
steerage though number of fine sailing
vessels which make regular trips between
Port Townsend and San Francisco and
Honolulu, with limited passenger accommo-
dations, charge $40 for cabin passage The
time for passage between San Francisco and
honolulu by. steamer is from six to seven
days. Freight rates from San Francisco are:
BY steamer IS per ton and per cent pri-
mage: by sailing vessels SO per ton and
per cent. primage, while the rates to At
lantic ports are from IS to 81 per ton, with
per cent. primage, and the duration of
the voyage between Honolulu and New
YORK from SO to 134 days. On the islands
there are three railroads, which, however
are used principally in carrying the prod
ucts of the plantations to the various points
or Shipment, and aggregate about seventy
miles in length.
The currency of the islands is of the
same unit of value as that of the United
States. The gold is all of American mint
age, and United States silver and paper
money is in circulation and passes at par
The Hawaiian money is paper, the paper
being secured by silver held in reserve
Banks keep two accounts with their depos-
ltors, silver and gold and checks are so
worded that the depositor may specify the
account from which the check is to be
paid, though in case the check does not
state in what currency it is to be paid
the law provides that the holder NAV de-
mand gold if the amount is over $40 The
Hawaiian silver money amounts to 81 OOO.-
OO0 of which $500, GOO is held by the govern
ment to secure like amount of paper The
total money in circulation is estimated at
$3,5C0OOo The rate of exchange is IL per
cent. on Eastern clues of the United States
and l per cent. on the Pacific coast Gold 10
at a premium of l per cent. The annual in
ternal taxes average $6.4S per capita; the
1850; expenditures 81 137. IO3. and the nublic
debt, A,lOl, ia, bearing interest at and
per cent. Commercial travellers are under
the laws now in force, required to take oui
a license costing at Honolulu for the island
upon which II is located $50 and on each
of the other islands S255
The statement is not such as to encour-
age those desiring to seek employment in
Hawaii. The market for all kinds of labor
1t says, is overstocked and IL would be very
unwise. in the opinion of the consul gem
n " CT tha 81 .1e- rw-skl
no capital on the mere chance of obtaining
employment, many of those who have so
arrived being compelled to return disap-
pointed. Wages on the plantations includ-
ing house and fsrewood or room and board
range from 1925 to $175 per month for engi-
neers and sugar boilers. $50 TO 800 per month
for blacksmiths and carpenters. $40 to SIS
per month for locomotive drivers 500 to
$l75 per month for booAneepers $50 to $40
per month for teamsters. In Honolulu the
rates are 50 to Sc per gay for bricklayers
and masons, $3.50 to IS per day for carpen-
tiers and painters and 50 10 S. per day for
machinists. Cooks receive from 50 to Sc per
ers IS 10 $l2 per month. Retail prices of
provisions are as follows: Hams l6 to 30
cents PEI. pound; bacon, 16 to 20 cents
hour, $3.50 to 80 per 100 pounds; rice, $325
to IS per 100 pounds; butter 20 to 80 cents
per pound; eggs. IS to so cents per dozen
and ice, 1la cents per pound.
CurloJsly the productions OF the islands
are almost entirely class of articles for
which the people of the United States have
In the past been compelled to send money
outside of their own borders. Sugar coffee
tropical fruits and rice. for which we send
abroad more than $500, eco 0o0 annually, are
the chief productions of the islands, and
while the quantity so produced amounts to
less than one-tenth of this sum, 1t is be-
lieyed that ii may be materially increased
and to this extent our expenditures for this
class of articles be in future kept within
our own borders and among our own people
OF sugar, of which 1t is said the Hawaiian
islands are much more productive in a given
area than those of the West Indies the ex-
portation increased from 294 1884, SIG pounds
in 1885 to $40, 1882 pounds in 1897, and for
1898 will. 1t is expected. be considerably in
excess of last year. OF coffee the exporta-
ton increased from 3.05f pounds in 1881 to
3S7 l5S pounds in 1897: of rice the exporta-
ton increased from 3.76S762 pounds in 1895
to 5499. 499 in 1897, and in plneapples the in
crease was equally striking In the matter
of imports as above indicated nearly all of
the necessities of life. aside from sugar
fruits and vegetables, are imported. the
products OF the United States being given
the preference ID nearly all cases.