The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-11-21
new BUT THRIVING
How Mauna1ei Plantation
is Getting Along.
L. M Vetissen Talks About Lanai
Island Sugar Enterprise That
Looks Well.

Mr.. /. VI. VeIesea. 50 well and favor
ably known in this city as the former
manager Of the Hawaiian Hardware
Company, was in town yesterday from
The Naunalei Plantation on the Island
OF Lanai, where he holds the RESPONSE
bic position OF head bookkeeper and
Daymascer. II connection with this he
has charge Of the large plantation store
a. the main camp and is also the post
master. II follows that Mr.. Vetlesen
is very busy man and that when he
comes to Honolulu it is on business,
not pleasure. He found time, however,
yesterday TO answer a few inquiries
about the plantation put 10 him by an
Advertiser representative.
Primarily my present trip to Ho-
nolulu, said Mr.. Vetlesen, lis to pur-
chase a big stock of goods for the new
store at the main camp Of the planta-
ton. This is very large building
and the finishing touches are now be-
ing put on il. Il is two stories in
height, the upper one being devoted to
the accommodation Of the higher Off
Gals of the plantation. The lower floor
contains in addition TO the large store
room, the private offices Of the book
keeper and surveyor, an Office for the
manager and the plantation doctor.
The p0stoffice is also to be located
there, and since it has been a money
order office there has been very great
increase in the volume of business
Tell the Advertiser something about
the plantation, Mr.. Vetlesen!'
Everything is looking fine as far as
the cane fields are concerned. We are
and clearing as rapidly as pos
sibIe. We have about $50 acres already
in for our first crop and shall continue
or planting until the first of the year.
The young cane is looking beautiful,
in fact | don't remember ever seeing |
any anywhere that looked any better
for it's age. You know We only COM
menced planting last July.
I'VE have just finished the railroad
from the landing to the main camp, a
distance of about two miles, and this
will be great convenience as we'll as
4 great saving in teaming. Our two
small pumping plants are working well
and are furnishing all the water we
need at present Work is still pro-
en- the main pumping station,
but we have been delayed by the diff
Guilty in getting our freight through
from the Mainland. We have not been
allie to get lime. cement and brick for
The foundations and for setting sthe
boilers and machinery as fast as we
could wish but We are pushing every
thing along as rapidly as we can IN
spite OF these drawbacks. We hope tol
get the big pumps started, however
in another month or six weeks. rms
will give us all the water We shall need
ND to the geo foot level, that is 1t VIII
irrigate all the land on the plantation
below that altitude.
How many men are employed on
the plantation?" was asked.
About $50 at present, although we
have applied for $50 more and expect TO
oct them in about six weeks. Manager
is doing splendidly with the
outside work while his thorough
knowledge of engineering has been in
valuable to us. The laborers are com
fortablv housed and we have had no
trouble with them nor do we expect 10
have any.
Us it correct, as reported, that you
have already ordered your mill?
Yves. The order was placed with
tho Risdon Iron Works last week.
That firm built our pumping plants and
bsva given us good satisfaction. Inc
contract requires that the mill shonld
no in running order by January /, lSol'
IN time for our first crop. cannot
g;vo Won any data about the mill or us
oanacitv for | have not seen the plans
vet I know that it will be up 10 o>t'
and sufficiently large for all our needs
present and prospective.