The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-03-26
AGRICULTURAL
The Possibilities of Our
Climate.
Commissioner Allan Herbert Answers
the Inquiries Of intending
CoIOnists.

The intense interest awakened all
over the world in the agricultural pos
sibilities Of Hawaii is made apparent in
many ways. Letters OF inquiry from
intending colonists come 10 al branch
- OF the Government. Allan Herbert,
one OF the Commissioners of Agrieul-
ture, answers many such letters. His
annual report has been recently for
warded 70 the authorities at Washing
ton, and now comes the news that Sec
rotary OF Agriculture Wilson will send
to Hawaii 100000 rubber trees for ex-
perimental purposes. This seems a di-
rect result OF Commissioner Herbert's
report, as he gave details in 1t Of the
possibilities OF rubber culture here. He
said yesterday;
Il have many hundreds OF letters
from the United States and Europe,
asking information, from all classes OF
peOple-doctOrs, lawyers, social re-
formers, farmers. would-be emigrants,
and others. l have tried to reply brief
~ TO each inquiry but find it a severe
task on my time and energy. ] an
request and 20 make public through its
columns some OF he letters Of these
ambitious colonists and answers 1
have made. Most people want TO know
as 10 the public lands and the system
under which they are held. have
written them that / cannot encourage
anyone 10 leave the United States in
search OF home here except under
certain conditions, FOR the following
reasons: II man has money ne can
ind land more accessible to market
and more easily cultivated In CalifOr-
MIA. II is an undOubted fact that it
has been the aim OF our Government,
by anording every possible facility, TO
obtain occupants for the vacant lands
OF these Islands; native Hawaiians, in
particular. The total area Of Govern
ment land Is approximately $4,000
acres, and out of this ons-half or more
Is the very best Of agricultural land
for sugar. rice. coffee, etc The rental
averages less than two cents an acre.
and these tracts are the choicest in the
Islands, including upwards OF 100. 900
acres OF cane land now under cultiya-
ton, besides a large area suitable for
tropical products. Most OF the private
lands are owned by a few of our large
estates and by individuals, held, for
the most part, Oy wealthy people for
speculative purposes
Examples OF Letters.
The following are Two communica-
tons which are examples Of the major
ity. and show me intelligent aim of
the writer's:
pbuadeInhia pa
Mr.. Allan Herbert. Commissioner Az
riculture.
Dear Sir; ! wish 10 20 to the Ha-
waiian Islands IN the coming spring
and would like 10 have your advice in
reference 20 the same. I would like to
buy or rent a small tract OF land suffi-
cient to raise small fruits and yege-
tables, and also 20 engage in the dairy
business. Can I, by working hard.
make a living in this business, and in
time save a little money? How far
from Honolulu must ] 90 to get land
for my purpose? How is the water
supply in the country districts? What
ID the price OF land and also OF good
cows?
My family consists of my wife and
daughter, aged 8, and we are all pre-
pared to work hard will have on ar
rival there about 5000 or $500 and will
bring sufficient clothing to last two
years; also household utensils and 9th
er necessary things. BY strict econo-
my and hard work, can we pull through
Tor four years, when / will have a large
sum OF money through the settlement
of my fathers estate?
viii thank you very kindly for any
useful information you can give me.
Enclosed please find 10 cents to cover
return postage; and will you kindly
send me some copies Of Hawaiian news
papers you may have lying around?
very truly yours, A. b. A.
Hamakuapoko, Maui.
Allan Herbert, Honolulu.
Dear Sir: Your reports on agricul-
tural possibilities and conditions have
interested me greatly. 1 am at present
negotiating for some land on this ISL
and, and IL ! get It must do something
with IL as soon as possible. Il is very
fertile land, with a steady rainfall ev-
cry month OF from one TO ten inches. I
Elve thought of the rubber industry.
and the fact that you mentioned il in
one OF your reports brought me 70
write you, and | should value greatly
any suggestion from you in the matter.
l wish to learn all / can about the rub
Der business, and would be greatly
Obliged could you tell me where I
could secure the information / desire.
l believe there are other industries be-
sides that Of sugar that would pay well
here, II they were only pushed forward.
and don't think better locality could
be found FOR such than where this land
/ speak of is situated.
Could you find time to drop me a
line in re the above / should be greatly
obliged.
Respectfully yours, w. o. 4.
About Rubber Cultere.
The reply to W. o. AS query was as
follows; X seem 10 me that part OF
Hawaii would be well suited Cor the
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