The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-04-03
CAPITALIST
TAI KS SHOP
FavorabIeO Opinion
on Hawaiian
Values.
GOOD PROSPECT
FOR LOANS
John A. Buck Thinks Visiting
Financiers are Satisfied
With Impressions.

waiian hotel with Mr.. John A Buck of
San Francisco, who came TO the Is
lands with a party of capitalists rep
Iresenting the Germania Bank and Loan
Association, to look into values and in
vestments probable and possible in
Hawaii Mr.. Buck was found practl-
cally confined to his room on account
of a sprained ankle gained from the
accident to the Hilo stage in which he
and Mr.. Irwin had narrow escape
some days ago. The sprain compelled
Mr.. Buck to use clutches, which he has
now discarded and packed up ready TO
send to his friends in Hilo who may
still be in need Of them The accident
has not prevented Mr.. Buck from max
ing thorough tour OF this Island after
having paid visit to every sugar plan
tation of Importance on the Big Is
land
While l came down here with the
folks from the Germania Association"
said Mr.. Buck, tenderly nursing his
bandaged foot Il came here for my
own Individual interests. The party are
all friends of mine and we did our Wis
iting together, but primarily 1 was
looking after my own affairs l am
widely interested in sugar matters here
and have been for many years. L am
practically a kamaaina, although my
home is in San Francisco and has been
for the last forty years. Still l visit
Hawaii every year or so. I was here
last two years ago, and needless to say
am surprised at the rapid strides made
by Honolulu in that period.
I'VE found every appearance of pros
perity in all the plantations visited OH
the Big Island, the cane in every case
making fine showing. I was perhaps
the better qualified to judge on that
point, having been manager of the
Hutchinson plantation in 1880. l am
still president of the concern besides
being president of the Honolulu Sugar
Co. and wise president of Hakalau. 1
also possess interests in Paauhau. l
feel sure that the representatives of the
German bank are returning fully salts
fled of the value and solidity of most
of the plantations handled and submit
ted by them. Loans, / am confident.
will be easier to obtain on real estate
and other securities after this visit,
which will prove in many ways bene-
fetal to the community. Much interest
was shown in the various plantations
and in the Hilo railroad"
Mr. Buck is interested in the Matson
Navigation Company, but when ques-
toned on the likelihood of direct tran
sit between Hilo and the Coast dis
claimed any knowledge of the doings
of the company in that direction.
There are some members of the
party" the capitalist went on to say.
who think that Hawaiian real estate,
particularly in Honolulu, is under the
influence of a boom. 1t is probable
that their views have been altered by
their present visit. The association IS
largely interested here and has
the command of several millions which
should they think favorably, Is open
for investment here. l should judge
that the present trip may advance Is
land securities
1T is hard for many people on the
Mainland to realize the difference be-
tween a California ranch and the
enormous expenditure and enterprise
needed in connection with a sugar plan
tation. To them the large amount Of
capitalization required seems an at
tempt to create artificial values and he
impressions of capable men who have
visited the Islands will do mucl to
these ideas.
Il think that present values are so'id
and will remain so for many years to
come. l do not see any indications of
a boom. While sugar, which Is Of
course the backbone of the Territory, |
will undoubtedly deteriorate in price
after while. improved machinery and |
the consequent decrease of labor should |
keep the dividends up to the mark The |
in general use in the Islands !
is now ahead of that used anywhere |
else
With regard to the labor question, 1
am inclined to judge that the Porto !
Ricans, properly acclimated and han
died, are the best solution. Their chill |
dren should make excellent field labor I
ers. have not observed the negro ele- |
ment at all closely. In the sos the |
negroes employed were the riff-raff, !
sailors and others that hap
pened along. There is plenty of land |
yet available for sugar, while over here |
near Honolulu is produced the biggest |
yield to the acre in the world The |
hawaiian Islands are an excellent field |
for investment in my mind. I have |
been interested here for many wears
and am still satisfied to keep my fnan-
cial eggs in the Hawaiian basket. The
impressions of the returning party will. |
think, coincide with mine"
Mr.. Buck and the other members of
The party will return on the Mariposa in
two weeks time, after an exhaustive
inquiry and survey of the interests that
nave been brought before their notice.
While Mr.. Buck disclaims any actual
connection with the visiting financiers,
ne is regarded as an expert on many
Hawaiian values and was invited to ac-
the visitors and express his
opinions of securities with which he
vas unfamiliar