The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-19
CONDITIONS IN HAWAII
Interesting Exhibit Made in Gov
ernor Dole's Annual Report.
Beneficial Results Of American Gov
eminent and Civilization Already
NOticeab1e-SuEnr Industry Greatly
Stimulated by Annexation - Labor
Problem Demanding Attention.

litory of Hawaii. gives very interest
ing description of the affairs, progress, ant
development of the island Territory. il
| his annual report to the Secretary of thu
Interior. which has just been issued. l
gives a clear idea of how American gov
eminent and civilization are already show
ing beneficial results.
Governor Dole says the last Hawaiian
census. which was taken in the year 1896
gives total population of 10000. wherea.
the preliminary statement of the popula-
ton of the United States. accompanying the
annual report of the Director OF the
| Twelfth Census. shows the population oil
Hawaii for 1900 to be 154,00l. The tax
able property subject to ad valorem as
sessment in 1900 was valued at S97. 491 ,5S4
Speaking of public lands. Governor Dole
says that in consequence of President Nc
| Kinley's order of September IL, 1899. dis
continuing further disposition of public
lands there are no transactions to report
| for the first six months OF 1900.
The sugar industry" the report states
has been greatly stimulated by annexa-
| ton, and the value of sugar exported for
| the first six months of 1900 has been Sl4,
! 770.546.7S.
Rice is raised almost entirely by Chi
| nese. and is cultivated in wet land. with
the ground covered by water until the
| grain begins to ripen; the water Is then
drawn Off. and by the time the crop is
ready to be harvested the ground is firm
under foot and nearly dry. The crop is
harvested with sickles and the paddy is
threshed out on threshing floors. generally
made of cement, by driving loose horses
| over the sheayes. Two crops are raised
| in each year
The paddy is hulled and the rice pol
ished and graded mainly by machinery
the larger plantations having complete
plants of their own for this purpose
During the first six months of 1900 rice
was exported valued at $780,
OF the cultivation of coffee, the report
says: During the past ten or twelve
years the cultivation OF coffee has devel-
oped to considerable extent.
AT the present time, low prices are
causing some encouragement but there
Is no good reason to believe that coffee
cultivation must cease to be profitable.
Many have made and are making it pay,
and it seems probable that with better
cultivation and greater attention to the
| marketing of the product the business
.iay be placed on {. more substantial
basis.
The Hawaiian coffee is of fine quail
ity, and when well established in any
market is much liked and brings good
prices. The area of coffee cultivation in
1897 was, approximately. 6.l5i acres.
Governor Dole says bananas have been
proftably exported to the mainland for
many years from Honolulu. With regular
steam communication between the island
rf L u =
port from that island would und oubtedly
grow up.
The report goes on to say that pine
apples have been raised fer export for
number of years, that the ta-o is to
the Hawaiians their staff of life and is
locally consumed, that tobacco grows will
in parts of the group, and that the COM
mercial values of the different varieties
raised is unknown
Further on. the report says: THE es-
tablishment of an experiment station here
is desirable. Such an enterprise could
not fail to be of vast benefit to the small
farming interests of this Territory. If
such stations were located at places
where they might be conveniently visited
by those interested in the experimental
work, the results of such work wcu.d it
seems to me, better and more fcrcibly
reach those whom it is desired to reach
than in any other way. Free monthly
bulletins would be very useful and would
reach many who could not often visit the
! stations.
AT the present time the home product
of beef, mutton and butter is insufficient
to supply the local demand and large i'm
portations of these articles are regula / v
made. This is mainly in conses uence of
larger demand caused by increase of
population
Regarding forests and the production
of lumber, the report says:
1.-The Government has for several years
past planted forests in the neighborhood
of Honolulu.
THE indigenous forests have diminish
ed during the past half century to an
alarming degree. and are now rapidly dis
appearing in some localities. This is gen.
orally ascribed. correctly, 1 believe. to
the prevailing custom of pasturing cattle
in forest lands.
These Is great need for a trained for
ester who can advise the Government in
regard to the protection of forests and
their extension; also upon questions of
permitting certain lands to be deforested
for settlement and agricultural purposes
There were in existence to June 30
1900 All corporations, of which thirty-six
were of religious and benevolent char
acter; 1GS, Inerchantile; 175, agricultural;
thirteen, telephone, Geographic, and
cable; seven. railways; three cemeteries;
nine clubs and lodges
Speaking OF railways, the report says
that the aggregate length of roads now
building is forty-one miles, and that the
ties, rails, locomotives, and all equipment
consist of American material.
The chapters on labor and on the condi-
tiCn Of the natives are highly Interesting,
and they arc in part as follows: Il he Ter
ritorial act has. by its provision that 70
proceedings shall be maintained for the
specific performance of any contract for
personal service nor for the breach of
any such contract, except suits for dam
ages for breach of contract practically
Cancelled all labor contracts which were
existing on the 1ith of June. 1900. A
large number of Japanese contract lab
orers have taken advantage of this i'm
munity and have either deserted work or
have become irregular and uncertain in
their performance. Many are wandering
over the country in quest CT engaE amen:s
at higher wages than they have receive
ed heretofore. The result is that many
plantations are greatly pTeju1iced In
their operations for want of lahcr some
of them, indeed. having less than half OF
the number of hands they require
ne rae Oh wages mas bCen faiSs q on
some plantations. which has had the eff
feet OF enlistiDg in some localities an in
creased number of natives in plantation
work.
There is a strong feeling among sugar
men that some source of labor supply
outside of the Territory is essential u
the continued prosperity of local sugar
enterprises. Outside of the sugar plan
ta;.oDs there is an adequate supply of
work for the skilled mechanics already Ia
the Territory. The number of sugar plan