The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-06-08
Facts and Figures Of
Our Progress,
REPORT OF Mr. YOUNG

Comprehensive Summary Of Condi-
tons Of Many Industries Of
the Islands,
A neat volume has Just been issued
from the press of the Hawaiian Gazette
Company, containing the report of the
Minister of the Interior for the biennial
period ending December 3lst, 1899. AZ
Mr.. Young will go out OF office together
with the other officers of the Republic.
on June 18th. the report, the last one he
will make OF his work in the Interior
Department, In of considerable interest
at this time.
In its one hundred and fifty pages
Mr.. Young's report contains much In
formation OF general interest, well col
lated. and treating of nearly every sub
ject connected with the interior affairs
of the Islands.
The report will prove revelation to
many who are unacquainted with the
facts and figures as to the material
wealln anu tflt pIt5tll ~ bSp'lilS VI
the Hawaiian Islands. and the whole
volume will be we'll worth a perusal by
any one.
Island Agriculture.
Probably the most interesting report
in the volume to the general reader and
the seeker after information about the
Islands Is that of the Commissioner of
Agriculture, David Haughs. This re-
port gives a comprehensive review of
the agricultural products of the Islands,
describing the work that is being done
all over the group.
OF the sugar industry, figures are
given on the crop Of the past four years.
That of 1898 aggregated 9,414 tons
and that of 1S9S-99 was 2S2,S67 tons, a
goodly increase for the year.
The coffee crop of 1899 Is one of the
largest on record, but many planters
have been unable to sell at profit, ow-
Ing to the low prices on coffee. caused
by over production in Brazil The same
trouble Is experienced in other countries
and many plantations have been aban-
doned and sugar and other Industries
started instead.
Vegetables Needed.
On the subject of vegetables the re-
port has the following to say:
Many tourists who arrive here from
other countries complain of the scarcity
and poor class of vegetables to be found
on the market in Honolulu. That good
vegetables can be grown on these ISL
ands there Is no doubt, but to raise good
vegetables they must be grown on the
high lands. The vegetables to be found
on the market in Honolulu are mostly
grown by Chinese on the low, Swampy
lards few feet above sea level: and
the same kind of crops grow on the
same soil year after year without any
effort to fertilize or stimulate the soil
in any way.
There is plenty of good land suitable
for vegetable growing at an elevation of
say from 1900 to 5000 feet. and with
reasonable transportation there Is a
good opening for limited number of
people who may care to follow that vo-
cation"
OF the newer industries of the Islands
mention is made of the growing of pea
nuts for their oil, the production OF tan
min from the black waffle and the grow
ing of sisal, the plant from which Ha-
waiian fibre Is manufactured.
Forest Reservation.
The matter of forest preservation is
treated at some length, for the question
has assumed serious phase of late,
, owing to the alarming frequency of for
est fires and the great quantity of valu-
able timber which has been destroyed
by that agency AS in the States, cat
tlemen have been in the habit of setting
fire to the ferns and underbrush for the
purpose of improving their pasture
land. Some measures looking toward the
prohibiting of this practice are abso-
lutely necessary, as hundreds OF acres
of valuable timber land are annually
devastated In this manner, and timber
is scarce in many localities where it
IN nlanfifIl pnfnralf-
ing Is becoming necessary in many dry
districts and has been taken up by
some planters.
Prof. Koebele's Work.
The work of Prof. A. Koebele, the
Government entomologist, Is especially
commended. and his good work in the
other Islands of the l'acihc. where he
spent some time searching for insects
which would prey upon the various
pests which afflict the Hawaiian ISL
ands. Is described at some length.
From Fiji Prof. Koebele sent one box
of sugar cane said to be borer-
proof. and one of the best sugar pro-
ducers In Fill. The cane was given to
the superintendent of the sugar plant |
ers' experimental station at Makiki.
Prof. Koebele a $50 forwarded to the Blu |
reau OF Agriculture and Forestry nine
kinds Of taro. three kinds OF yams and
seeds. plants and cuttings OF about 200
species of fruits, rubbers. ornamental
trees and shrubs. also many rare palms. |
He also informed the Bureau of Agri- |
culture of his discovery of pest call
ed the Mediterranean fly, which Is doing
much damage to fruits In the Austria
Ian Colonies and the South Sea Islands. ,
Warning was at once given by your
Commissioner to fruit importers against
ordering fruit from the infected coun-
tries. and at the first meeting of the
Board after receiving the notice a mo- |
tion was passed and then published !
prohibiting the importation of fruit
from the Australian Colonies and South
Sea Islands.
The Surveyor-General.
". d. Alexander, Surveyor General |
of the Islands. makes an exhaustive re-
port of the. work OF his department..