The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-21


and development of Hawaii covering
the period from July Z, 1898. the date
of the approval Of the joint resolution
to provide for annexing the Hawaiian
islands to the United States, up to
April 30. 1900, the date of the beginning
of the present territorial government.
Many facts in it are of general in
terest.
The last Hawaiian census, taken in
the year 1896, gave a total population
of 100000. of which 31,019 were native
Hawaiians. The number of Americans
reported was SASS. The results of the
Federal census taken this year show
the islands to have Il total population
of 1874 001, an increase over that report
ed in 1896 of 44.9S1, or 41.2 per cent The
total land surface of the Hawaiian Is
lands is approximately 6,449 square
miles: the average number Of persons
to the square mile at the last three
censuses being as follows: For 1890,
1879; 1896. 16.9; 1900. 1913. The present
aggregate area of the public lands is,
approximately 1,722.713 acres, valued
at $3.50, 500. The valua ton of taxable
property subject to ad valorem assess
ment of one per cent is S97 .491 5S4, d.
vided into real estate, S45,62C,1S5 and
personal estate, $51, ST 399.
There has been marked progress in
the agricultural development of the
island. The sugar industry has been
greatly stimulated by annexation. In
the year 1899 there was 5S plantations.
s. of which had their own reducing
plants. There was also one mill which
reduced the cane produced on neighbor-
ing plantations. Nine of these planta-
tfons may be credited to the stimulus
to the sugar industry caused by an
neXation, and two are large Develop
ments of small plantations due to the
same cause. The value of sugar eX-
ported for 1898, 1899, and the first six
months of 1900 has been as follows:
1898, $16.6l4 ,622.53; 1899, SCI 1,S9S, ,19O.97;
first half of 1900, $14,77O546.76 Sugar
estates have paid taxes for 1898 and
1899 as follows: 1898, s237527.S9; 1899,
1896, ,SS7.73:
Rice is raised almost entirely by
Chinese, and is cultivated in wet land
with the ground covered by water lln-
til 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 thrashed out
on thrashng floors, generally made Of
cement, by driving loose horses over
the sheaves. Two crops are raised
each year: n considerable portion Of
the product is consumed locally. Rice
plantations have paid taxes for 1898
and 1899 as follows: 1895. S12,142.62;
1899, S14.54i.0O.
During the past ten or twelve years
the cultivation of coffee has developed
to a considerable extent. The Ha-
waiian coffee is of Il fine quality and
brings good prices, The area Of coffee
cultivation in 1897 was, approximately,
G,l54 acres. In 1898 the area under cul-
tiration had increased, approximately,
tn S,SSS acres Bananas have been
protitably exported to the mainland for
many years from Honolulu. The value
of the fruit exported for 1898, 1899, and
the first six months of 1900 has been
as follows: 1898, $66. .5SO.9l; 1899, $S4-
26S.S2; first six months of 1900, $9,3l7.
The export for this last period was dis
astrously interrupted by the prevalence
of the bubonlc plague in Honolulu and
the consequent quarantine regulations.
Pinoapples have been raised for ex-
port for a number of years. There is
hardly a limit in the territory to the
possible production of this fruit and
bananas. The export of pineapples in
1898, 1899, and the first six months of
1900 was valued as follows; 1898, S14,-
1880; 1899, Sl4,6a9.6l first six months
of 1900 l0,7S1.1l.
The question of raising cattle is
proving one of interest and profit. A
number of large ranches are now being
successfully operated. The expectation
of wool in 1899 was 3O7,55 pounds,
valued at $2667S,9S. The forests of
Hawaii are worthy of consideration. A
great variety of indigenous trees ex-
lists in these forests. A majority of the
large trees belong to the class of hard
woods. Several varieties of exotic
trees have been introduced and have
materially assisted in adding to the
diminishing forests. There is great
need for trained forester who can
advise the government in regard to the
protection of forests and their extern
sion; also upon questions OF permit
ting certain lands to be deforested for
settlement and agricultural purposes.
Industrial progress has been note
worthy; from January | to June H.
1900 2l corporations TOR mercantile
agricultural, manufacturing, or invest
ment purposes, and l for church pur-
poses, obtained charters. In the same
period 9 corporations obtained amend
ments to their charters. Corporations
in existence June 80. 1900, are as fol-
lows: Religious and benevolent, SO;
mercantile, 16S: agricultural, lg5; tele-
phonic, telegraphic, and cable, Is; rail-
ways, Z; cemeteries, 3; clubs and lodges,
.. making Il total of All.
''.'he future development of the rail-
:unls promises To be in keeping with
oihCr material interests of the island.