The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-22

walton of coffee the prospects of which
were at that time very bright.
The cost of clearing required large
outlay OF capital: nothing daunted, they
proceeded with the planting and cultiva-
ton of coffee. Like most experimental
enterprises, it resulted in failure.
The settlers were not to blame for its
failure. for they had done all in their
power to make it success. Elaborate
pulping and other machinery was pur-
chased and installed, with expectations
of a large crop.
To enable them to do this, necessitated
further expenditure of money, most OF
which they borrowed, giving agreements
on her holdings as security. lnallV'
the government. in its wise consideration
decided that they should receive all en-
coura gement that could be afforded them:
to further this end, Part TX was insert
ed in the land laws of Hawaii, 1899 OF
which the following is a brief digest:
OIaa SaIes:-Special sale at value APP
praised in Act of 1895 of laws held under
Crown Land Leases, District of Hawaii.
Lessee could purchase his lease holding,
up to 200 acres, when Is per cent or same
had been put under cultivation, and FUR
Their improvements to the value of 800
made.
Distinct from general system of the
Land Act and applying only to the Olaa
District.
About a year after the Land Act took
effect. failure of the coffee industry
brought the Olaa settlers to the brink OF
bankruptcy. With this fact staring them
in the face, yet they kept their lands
continued to perform all conditions re-
CURED of them and awaited events. Sub
sequently the Olaa Sugar Company was
promoted, which, without any question.
was the salvation of the Olaa settlers.
Had the Olaa land never been opened
up for settlement, or even had the coffee
industry been a success, the promotion
of a sugar plantation would never nave
been a possibility in OIaa.
l think that you viii agree with me
that l would rather have seen the land
still in the hands of the settlers, and
that they should have been the planter,
instead of so large an area being ac-
quired by one single corporation. And
yet, under the circumstances, it was in
eVtable.
AS to the necessity of disposing of pub
lie lands of the Territory at this time,
would say that the same necessity ex-
lists here as it exists on the mainland, or
any new State or Territory
This office is continuously in receipt OF
applications from intending settlers who
are willing to conform to the existing
land laws; and for the purpose of devel-
oping the agricultural resources of the
Islands and increasing the class of per-
manent bona fide farmers, it is obvious
ly necessary that the public lands should
be opened to these applicants.
In view of this demand for public land
for settlement from the very class of
people whom the laws of Hawaii and the
Territorial officials desire to encourage,
it is the plain duty of the Commissioner
to open lands as desired, and failure to
do this would be gross negligence.
In closing, ! would say that the Land
Act of 1885, has proved well suited to
the conditions in the Hawaiian Islands.
Under it the demand for public land has
been active. and fair prices have been
realized for the benefit of the public
| treasury.
Speculation and land grabbing" has
been minimized, and a marked improve
ment and development of lands taken is
| evident. The success of the Act would
not be questioned by any impartial OBJ
server familiar with the facts
| The extremely varied quality of the
| lands, the intermingling of public and
private lands, and the special needs of
| the people, together with the duty of
best utilizing the limited public domain,
required land laws drawn to meet such
special conditions, and these in all es-
sential points have been met by the
| Land Act of 1895"
| l have the honor to be. Sir,
Your obedient servant,
EDWARD F. BOYD,
Commissioner of Public Lands.
| (CnnU