The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-02-02
PUBLIC LANDS
President Dole Writes
Upon Them,
Abstract Of His Views as Published IN
the Last Issue Of the
Independent,

Hawaiian IuDllc lsanntt Wy Shhlulu
-. Dole, President OF Hawaii Follow
ing is an abstract:
In the year 1889 Kamehameha III.
issued a proclamation granting to the
Hawaiian people the right of acquiring
real estate and other property and
holding the same without interference.
During the year 1S4S terms of division
of the lands of the kingdom were ar
ranged, after much deliberation, be-
tween the King. the chiefs and the
people. These, briefly, were as fol-
lows:
ITO the King a third, to the chiefs a
third. and TO the people a third. The
number of holdings taken up by the
common people came up to ll,l32, ag-
gregating 2S,G5S acres and averaging
257 acres apiece. a considerable num-
Der of the small holdings so acquired
have since passed into the hands of for
eigners through direct sales or mort
gage foreclosures. The lands of the
chiefs have also largely become the
property of foreigners by the same
methods.
In the year 1884 the Legislature en-
acted law providing for the sale of
homesteads to such persons as wished
them for permanent occupation. The
administration, however, were so little
in sympathy with the policy of this law
that no action was taken under 1t I'M
til 1888, when the new administration,
which had come into power under the
revolution of the previous year, took
vigorous measures to carry out its pro-
visions. Up to the time of the enact
ment of new land legislation, in 1895,
about 534 homesteads were taken up,
aggregating 8,4SS acres and appraised
at SOS, 047, or about SIS per acre, and av-
eraging Is $40 acres, and value of
1927 apiece.
"The land act of 1895 was far more
comprehensive than anything that had
preceded it, and covered the whole adj
ministration of the public lands, ex-
cepting town and forest lands, parks
and roads. The settlement of indiyid
uals on small holdings was it's predoR-
inant feature.
-Four special methods were provid
ed for furnishing land to applicants
wishing TO occupy the same, /. e..
homestead leases, right of purchase
ltd5tb, IIttuolu IetLhCilIo anu opt
.cial agreements of sale. OF these the
right of purchase lease has been the
most popular, with list of 1856 hold
ings taken up; the special agreements
of sale comes next, with 122 holdings;
homestead leases. lis holdings; and
freehold agreements, 90 holdings.
THE holdings occupied under these
different systems, aggregating GIG in
number, have a total area of 2S065
acres and an average area of 1886
acres. Their aggregate value at the
time of occupation, as appraised, was
SITS, 464, or $2S9.70 apiece, and 1886 an
acre.
THE administration of the public
lands was considered OF sufficient i'm
portance since the organization of the
Republic of Hawaii to justify the call
ing of a special session of the Legisla-
ture. In view of the possible failure
of the project of annexation to the
United States, ii was deemed necessary
to develop citizen class which should,
by its conservatism, industry and in
telligent interest in public order, be-
come a reliable support to the Govern
ment of the republic. There appeared
no more effective way of accomplish
ing this than by opening the public
lands to those. both from the existing |
population and future immigrants, who
would be ready to occupy them perma-
nently as farmers. The privilege of
taking up lands under this policy was
limited to citizens and such others as
might receive the privileges of citizen
ship through letters of deniZation. AT |
the same time the Legislature had in |
view the alternative of annexation.
THE results have been somewhat
disappointing. In proportion to their
numbers, comparatively few Hawaiians
have taken up homestead leases or
lands under any of the methods pro-
yided in the act.
Annexation, when complete, will
cut off considerable measure of the
cost of carrying on the local govern
ment, such as military, customs and
postoffice expenses, but such relief will
in no wise offset the loss of the GUS
toms revenues as they existed before
Moreover, with the rapid
of the country under the
of annexation, there will be
need of increased expenses for public
improvements.
"As the public lands of the Hawaii
an Islands are limited, and large
of them are comparatively
the Importance of the lease
hold system is apparent. 1t Is equally
apparent that repeal of this system,
which would force the public lands on I
the market, would deprive Hawaii OF
a material part of the consideration
upon which the annexation was effect
ed.
THE Hawaiian leasehold system is i,
also important to the country in an !
other way. The policy of land settle
nent In small holdings, II necessary 10 !,
he country in its independent condi- /,
ion. may be regarded as imperative :
Inder annexation. II :
This system conseryes the public il,
lomain with adequate provision for =
land to settlers according to !
he demand, under the reservation in q
he general leases of the right of the s
Government at any time to take pos 5
ession of any part Of the leasehold for 4