The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-04

z, 1898, the date Of the approval Of tho
joint resolution 81 the Congress provid-
ing for their annexation, up TO April 30,
1000, the date Of the approval OF the act
providing a government for the Terrific
~, and thereafter
The last Hawaiian census, taken in the
year 1896, gives total population Of
los, 020, of which BLOB were native Ha-
waiians. The number Of Americans re-
ported was S,4Sb. The results Of the
Federal census, taken this year, show the
islands to have Q total population Of 1b4,-
Dol, showing an increase over that re-
ported In 1896 OF 44,9S1, or ALP per cent.
There has been marked progress in the
educational, agricultural, and railroad de-
velopment Of the islands.
In the Territorial act of April 80, 1900,
section Z of said act repeals Chapter "a
Of the Civil Laws Of Hawaii, whereby
the Government was to assist In encour-
aging and developing the agricultural re-
sources of the Republic, especially irriga-
ton. The Governor OF Hawaii recon-
mends legislation looking to the develop
ment of such water supply as may exist
on the public lands, with a view OF pro-
noting land settlement. The earnest
consideration of the Congress is invited
to this important recommendation and
others, as embodied In the report of the
Secretary of the Interior.
The Director of the Census states that
the work In connection with the Twelfth
Census is progressing favorably. This
national undertaking, ordered by the
Congress each decade, has finally result
ed in the collection Of an aggregation of
statistical facts to determine the indus
trial growth or the country, its manu-
featuring and mechanical resources, its
richness in mines and forests, the number
of its agriculturists, their farms and
products, its educational and religious
opportunities, as well as questions per-
tanning to sociological conditions.
The labors of the officials in charge of
the Bureau indicate that the law OF
March 3. 1890, requiring the completion
of the four important and most-desired
subjects. namely, population. agricultur-
al, manufacturing, and vital statistics,
will be completed within the prescribed
limit
The field work incident to the above
inquiries is now practically finished,
and as result the population of the
States and Territories, including the Ha-
waiian Islands and Alaska, has been an
nounced. The growth of population dur
ing the last decade amounts TO over 49,
100000, a greater numerical increase
than in any previous census in the his
tory of the country.
Bulletins will be issued as rapidly as
possible giving the population by States
and Territories, by minor civil divisions.
Several announcements of this kind have
already been made. and il hoped that the
list will be completed by January 1.
Other bulletins giving the results of the
manufacturing and agricultural inquiries
will be given TO the public as rapidly as
circumstances will admit
The Director, while confident of his
ability to complete the different branches
of the undertaking in the allotted time,
finds himself embarrassed by the lack OF
a trained force properly equipped for sta
tistical work, thus raising the question
whether in the interest of economy and
a thorough execution of the census work
there should not be retained in the Gov
eminent employ a certain number of ex-
perts not only TO aid In the preliminary
organization prior to the taking of the
decennial census, but In addition to have
the advantage in the field and office work
of the Bureau of trained assistants to IA
NiiltdLt Tue curly COnHlStioD VI lilS
nous undertaking.
l recommend that the Congress at its
present session apportion representation
among the several States as provided by
the Constitution.
The Department of Agriculture has
been extending its work during the past
year. reaching farther for new varieties
of seeds and plants; cooperating more
fully with the States and Territories in
research along useful lines; making prog
ress in meteorological work relating TO
lines of wireless telegraphy and forecasts
for oeean-going vessels; continuing in
quiry as to animal disease; looking into
the extent and character of food adulter-
alton; outlining plans for the care, pres
eryation, and intelligent harvesting of
our woodlands; studying soils that pro-
ducers may cultivate with better knowl-
edge of conditions, and helping to clothe
desert places with grasses suitable to our
arid regions. Our island possessions are
being considered that their peoples may
be helped to produce the tropical products
now so extensively brought into the Unit
ed States. Inquiry into methods of i'm
proving our roads has been active during
the year; help has been given to many To-
calities. and scientific investigation OF
material in the States and Territories has
been inaugurated. Irrigation problems in
our semiarid sgions are receiving careful
and increased consideration.
An extensive exhibit at Paris of the
products of agriculture has made the
peoples OF many countries more familiar
with the varied products of our fields and
their comparative excellence.
The collection of statistics regarding
our crops is being improved and sources
of information are being enlarged, to the
end that producers may have the earliest
advices regarding crop conditions. There
has never been time when those for
whom it was established have shown
more appreciation of the services OF the
Department.
In my Annual Message of December 8.
1898. / called attention TO the necessity
for some amendment of the alien contract
law. There still remain important fea-
lures of the rightful application Of the
eight-hour law for the benefit of labor
and of the principle of arbitration, and I
again commend these subjects TO the