The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-11-15
PUBLIC LANDS III
TERRITORY Of HLHII


Passorzlagricurural lands we're
clzssed as lands adapted in part 70
pzxturzze and In part 70 cultivation.
Forest IandS were lands producing
forest trees. bat unsuitable for cult
walton, and waste lands we're lands
not incl1ced In either OF the other
classes
This act provided the following
methods for the disposal OF the pub
lie lands OF the Republic:
L At public auction for cash in par
GELS OF not over 900 acres, the con
sent o. the executive council being re-
quired before any lands could be dis
posed Of in this manner.
?. At public auction upon part
credit, in parcels not exceeding coo
acres. with like consent required.
3. Without auction sale, in ex-
change for private lands. or BY. way OF
compromise
4. By lease at public auction for not
more than twenty-oue years.
5. By homestead leases, under
which each applicant might occupy
eight acres Of frst-class agricultural
lands. sixteen acres OF second-eIass
agricultural lands. one acre OF taro
land, thirty acres of frstclass pastoral
land. sixty acres of second-class pas
toral land. or forty-five acres Of pas
toral-agricultural lands. Certain quail
ifications were prescribed for these
homesteaders.
s. Right-of-purchase leases. under
which a qualified applicant could oc-
cupy, with the privilege of purchasing
at the end of three years, and upon
the fulfllment of special conditions,
either 100 acres OF first-class agrieul-
-tural lands. 200 acres of second-class
agricultural. two acres of taro lands.
500 acres of frst-class pastoral lands.
1900 acres OF second-class pastoral
lands, or 400 acres OF agricultural-pas-
tOral lands.
Z. Cash freeholds. under which quail
fled applicants could purchase at pub
lie auction the same areas which
could be acquired under the right-of-
purchase lease system above de-
scribed.
Congressional Action.
During the last session of Congress
there was introduced in the Senate,
its Bill 5SS2-
ITO extend the general land laws of
the United States to the Territory OF
Hawaii. with rules and regulations for
homestead entries by the Secretary
of the Interior
In reporting on this bill, this office
said:
The widely differing qualities and
character of the lands existing in the
Hawaiian Islands and their produc-
w. l.
the laws Of the Island. but this de-
partment is not in possession of any
information which would lead it %
determine, even approximately, the
amount Of each class of lands remain
ing yet unappropriated, and while it is
believed that less complicated sys-
TEN, and one which will result in per
hitting the citizens of Hawaii to &C
quire title in fee to these lands. under
laws similar TO those in force in the
United States. is most desirable, no
intelligent recommendation can be
made on the subject until sufficient
data has been collected through a
commission authorized by Congress to
enable this Department to determine
the amount of the respective classes
of land which should be awarded to
each entryman."
This Office is not informed that any
definite or general system of land
surveys existed in either Porto Rico
or the Philippines under Spanish rule
From the most reliable sources of in
formation at its command, it appears
that no attempt was ever made to sur
vey the public domain generally. and
that surveys were not made. except
when applications were presented for
the purchase of particular tracts. when
such tracts were surveyed and plat
ted.
Colonel Crowder, secretary to the
Military Governor. urges the lack of
proper surveys and the consequent in
ability to identify private holdings as
one of the reasons why farm lands
were formerly exempt from taxation
in the Philippines.
The Taft commission recently call
ed upon this Office to furnish the Phil
lipine engineer officers with informa-
ton as to the system of surveys now
in use in the United States. saving
that the subject of surveying the Phil
iDpine lands was about to be taken up.
This office made immediate and suit
able response to that call. but II has
not been advised of any action taken
by the commission.
In Hawaii.
In Hawaii a better system of sur
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