Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-22
THE HAWAIIAN ISLAND S
Prosperity There Was Never Greater Than
at the Present Time.
A Talk With Mr.. A. T. AtkinsOn, Who
Will Take the Gem

Mr.. Alatau T Atkinson of Honolulu. who
has been selected by President Dole and
appointed by Director Merriam to take the
census of the Hawaiian Islands, is in WASH
jrgton Mr. Atkinson is the editor OF the
Star published in Honolulu, and was gen
eral superintendent of the Hawaiian census
of 1896.
The prosperity Of the Hawaiian Islands
was never greater than at this time said
Mr. Atkinson to q Star reporter today.
Prices of land have advanced owing to
the expansion in agricultural enterprises,
and persons engaged in agriculture are
meeting with success. l would not have
any one think that Hawaii is a boom
country, however. where fortunes can be
picked up off hand, for such is not the case.
The islands do not present a field for
the operations of people without means.
Men with a fair amount of capital will find
opportunities for its profitable utilization,
but no man need expect to come to Hawaii
With but a siXpence in his pocket and get
rich.
Necessity for Congressional Action.
THE necessity for legislative action by
the American Congress with respect to Ha-
waii is constantly showing itself because
our laws and the laws of the United States
do not in all cases conform. While there
supreme court to interpret the laws under
existing conditions.
The difficulty has been especially mani
fest in trials growing out of labor con-
tracts, and it has been found necessary to
bring the matter forward to Washington.
The present government holds at the will
of the President, and While it does salts
factory work, the people feel a desire to
emerge from the transition period and get
their government upon solid basis.
I'VE look forward with the utmost con-
hdence to brilliant future for the Ha-
waiian Islands under the control of the
United States. All that the country need
ed for its development was to have an as
sured, strong government. in which the
people could have confidence and which
would guarantee the safety of property and
investments. We are to have such a gov
ernment, and the people are going ahead
with their business with great faith in the
future.
The line between the former royalists
and the anneXationists has practically been
wiped out. AS long as there was doubt as
to whether the republic would stand or the
monarchy be re-establshed. there was bit
terness between the factions, but this has
almost totally disappeared.
The Taking of the Census.
Mr.. Atkinson has been comforting for sew
el al days with the cersus officials upon the
work which is before him, as superntend-
ent of the Hawaiian census. The schedules
are being made up, and he will return to
Honolulu with his work pretty well map
Ped out. The schedules will conform very
| nearly to those of the United States CEN
sus, although there will be special lines OF
inquiry in certain directions, mainly reiat-
ing to industrial conditions.
The enumerators to be employed will be
Hawaiians and Americans, with perhaps a
sprinklng of japanese. In 1886, 15S emu
merators were employed, and more than
half of them We're of Hawaiian blood
In 1896 the total population Of the islands
vas 10000. of which number 36503 We're
| females. The census of 1896, by compari-
| son with previous censuses, showed that
| there was a slackening in the decrease OF
| the native population, due to the better
care being taken of the native children,
| ana an increase in the partHawaiian popu-
! lation and the foreign-born residents.