The evening times., 1899-07-20
MIXED LABOR IN HAWAII.
Interesting STATISTICS From the Rec
Ords of the Isiaads.

0rds of the Isiaads.
The Commissioner of Labor has gather
ed some interesting facts concerning the
introduction of Chinese laborers into Ha-
wall. Early in the century there were oc-
casional visits of Chinese people to Hawaii.
AS early as 1S45 few Chinese had been
allowed to intermarry with the natives OF
the islands and the records of the Interior
Department of Hawaii show the naturali-
zation of one Arising in 1845.
An oath of allegiance was required of an
alien before he could marry a native wo-
man. During the last fifty years there
have been naturalized about seven hunderd
Chinese. 1t has been asserted that the
mixture of Chinese and Hawaiian blood
has produced good results and that some
of the most prominent people in the ISL
ands are the issue of these mixed mar
riages. Many of these early Chinese i'm
spected citizens. These Chinese immi-
grants are not to be confounded with the
contract Chinese laborers.
The immigration of Chinese laborers be-
gan in 1852 and grew out of what was
thought to be the necessities of the people,
owing to the decline in the number of ma
tive laborers. The Royal Hawaiian Agri-
cultural Society issued a circular adyO-
eating the introduction of Chinese coolie
labor, and in 1852 the ship Thetis brought
$50 coolies from China to Honolulu. The
experiment proved satisfactory TO the So
ciety, and between the date indicated end
January, 1866. there were LOG Chinese i'm
M tod nf,, a.,d
children.
1In 1854 an act was passed by the Ha-
waiian Government establishing an immi-
grafton bureau to superintend the introduc-
tion of foreign laborers. The King direct
ed the bureau to encourage the immigra-
Iion of persons from the Portuguese colo
MES, the Azores, the Canary Islands, the
Cape de Verde Islands, and from ANY OF
the islands of the Pacific Ocean" The
Hawaiian ship r. w. Wood was ordered
to proceed TO China and bring cargo OF
Chinese laborers at the expense OF the
government.
In 1866, December 49, Capt. James
Makee, of the Island of Mauai. master OF
the Hawaiian schooner Pfeil, brought
twenty men, three women. and two chll-
dren from the Caroline Islands under con-
tracts TO labor on his plantation. In June,
1865, about fifteen Marquesans were
brought TO the islands, partly under the
auspices of the Bureau of immigration and
partly under the Board OF Foreign Mis-
sicns. These, with the Caroline Island
immigrants, gave satisfaction. and taeir
labor contracts were approved by the bu-
reau. In 1865 the question of the impor-
tation OF Chinese coolies was fun ther
considered, and under certain regulations
the introduction of this class of labor from
hono nf ha fF no
Hawaiian Islands. From this time on car
goes of Chinese laborers under contracts
for service were frequently and regularly
made. The matter of the medical inspec-
ton of immigrants became important as a
means OF protecting the health of the IN
habitants against contagious or infectious
diseases, and the various steps taken In
this direction have finally resulted If
quarantine and health protective meas
ures, which at this time are quite efficient.
Various changes in the regulations and
statutes controlling the immigration and
introduction of foreign laborer5 were made
from time to time by legislative and roya,
authority. A few inhabitants of the South
Sea Islands were brought to Hawaii, and
many Portuguese from other island COG
MES became residents and laborers in the
kingdom. Special efforts were from time
10 time made 10 induce the importation OF
females of the several islands and coun-
tries from which such importation was de-
sirable
The matter OF providing for the Japanese
laborers became an important question in
1857 and 1868. The Japanese Government
then interposed its offices and for many
years looked after the interests of its sub
jects who were laborers in the islands.
The large profits at one time resulting Fl u
the cultivation and manufacture of sugar,
where cheap Asiatic labor could be Cb-
tanned, produced the result of aggregating
capital for the purchase or lease OF sugar
lands. The facilities which existed under
the Hawaiian monarchy for obtaining
grants. concessions, and leases of govern
ment lands were availed of by speculative
favorites and others. and vast plantations
held by wealthy men came 10 be the rule
upon the islands.
The total number OF laborers on all Ha-
waiian sugar plantations on December 81
1897, was "a, 653. From January l to Au-
gust u. 1898, the excess of arrivals over
departures has been 2,195, which made the
grand total of laborers on August L, 1898
26,S4S. These laborers are divided, as indi-
Gated between the Japanese, Chinese
Portuguese, Hawaiians, South Sea Island
ers, and very small number from other
nationalities. They are distributed in the
order indicated The yield of sugar annu-
ally upon the Hawaiian Islands steadily
increased from q, ,000, 600 pounds in 1875 tC
IT, COO 900 pounds in 1885, 500, 000, 900
pounds in 1895, and 500, 600 600 pounds in
1897