Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-06-19
VANDALS AND TANTALUs.

Citizens who are worrying over what
the Advertiser calls vandalism and
consists of the cutting down Of Tan
talus forests by the Department Of
Agriculture will do well to bear In
mind this firmly established fact: The
United States Department Of Agricul-
ture has. never taken over any land,
fallow. forest or desert, In any town.
county, State or Territory which 1t has
not improved. turned to good purpose
and secured therefrom results of last
ing benefit to the development Of all
lines OF agricultural industry and ar
tistic landscape gardening.
What the Department of Agriculture
has done In every other portion OF the
American Union 1t intends to do and
will do for Hawaii. The honest citizen
is reminded that he ought not to shout
before he is hit, while the aggregation
OF small kings who have antagonized
every Federal department that has es-
tablishcd branch in this Territory are
free to gain what benefit they may
from the purity Of their motives as
expressed by their public acts.
Gagged by the immediate result the
destruction of the Tantalus forest does
make bad impression on the thought
less mind or those that have no con-
fidence in or sympathy with Federal
department work. II the Agricultural
department intended to cut off the for
ests to make money out Of the wood
and then allow the burned land to
grow up with tangle of Hilo grass
and lantana. the people would indeed
have good reason for serious COM
plant and harsh criticism. As a matter
of fact the department is not cutting
the forests for the price Of the wood; II
does not intend nor will It allow the
| Tantalus heights to run to weeds or be
blot on the scenery Of the city. The
department does intend to develope
this land along new lines. to replace
the forest with productive trees, plants
and shrubs, to make this land yield a
return that will not only satisfy the
artistic eye for beauty Of surroundings
but will also conserve the material well
fare of every citizen and broader de-
velopment of Territorial industries.
Using the same text that is now be.
ing drawn upon for criticism OF Direc'
tor Jared Smiths activities, the people
should rise in their wrath against the
destruction of the Olaa forests along
the line OF the Volcano road. The vir'
gin tropical tangle has been one Of the
i tnr La nj n1oua1 fni
years. The Volcano road was one Of
the few places where tropical beaut!
could be viewed from the pleasant
vantage point OF an easy carriage road
Does the public revolt against thu
transformation of the forest jungle int
productive fields. is the hand Of indus
try branded as the vandal hand? No
much. except by few malcontents.
1t Is true the Hawaiian government
spent quantities Of money In creating
the Tantalus forest and has watches
} its growth with Jealous care. 1t 1
, also true that the Hawaiian govern
, ment turned over one Of the best build
, ing sites OF the mountain to privat
, individual, Notwithstanding the Boar
of Agriculture had been guarding tina
special plot of ground and planting
with trees and shrubs with view 4
its becoming public park.
As between the records Of the Unite,
States Government and the record o
the Hawaiian government for protect
. ing public property from the wanda
and the land grabber, the Federal De
partment of Agriculture will not suffe
, under the searchlight OF comparison.
!, The Bulletin would suggest that tn
people give Jared Smith sufficient tim
to prove himself before they join tn
ranks of the critics, captlous and other
wise. II Mr.. Smith does not secur
better returns from the Tantalus land
than has ever been suggested unde
, Hawaiian government management h
. will fail to do what every representa-
3 tive OF his department has done wher
. ever detailed to carry out the plans Q
| the Department of Agriculture.