The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-11-15
PLANS TO
EXAMINE
ALL LANDS
Herman is Again
Anxious for
Inquiry.
CROWN LANDS
IN PUBLIC DOMAIN
History of the Methods Of Caring
for All Properties in
the Past.
Especial Correspondence

YASHNGTON, d. c., Nov. q
" Binger Herman, Commissioners
OF the Land Office at Washing
ton. in his report to the President has
the following relative to the insular
public lands:
''Recommends legislation for the ap-
pointment of a commission TO make
proper examinations. consider and re-
port with reference TO the survey and
disposal Of the public lands in the in
suIar possessions of the United States"
The Commissioner makes the en-
phatic statement that The absolute fee
and ownership of all public. Govern
ment, or Crown lands situated in Ha-
wait were absolutely coded to, and be-
came the property of, the United States
upon the annexation OF the Hawaiian
Islands"
laws of Hawaii. which briefly are:
That prior to 1916 the lands in Hawaii
belonged in legal contemplation to the
king. The act of the king giving his
chiefs and people portions of the lands,
retaining portions for himself and the
government, was ratified by the legisla-
ture in 1S4s. The lands thus passing to
the king and his heirs were thence
known as the Crown lands. In 1850, one
twentieth OF all public lands were set
apart for the support OF schools. In
1891 a part of the Crown lands was
divided into small tracts, and the meth
cd OF leasing them to homestead appli-
cants on easy terms instituted
In 1895 the legislature Of the Republic
passed the Land Act, 1885," now in
force. which provides comprehensive
system for the care and disposition of
the public domain. BY this act Crown
lands are treated as having vested in
the Republic, and they. together with
the public lands before mentioned, now
constitute the public lands of the Ter
ritory. Since the Hawaiian Land Act
OF 1895 embraces the laws thus contin-
ued in force a brief synopsis is here
given. as follows: They were classified
and divided into "a agricultural lands;
90 pastoral lands; 90 pastoral-agricul- !
turaI lands; () forest lands; (0 waste !
lands. This act provided the follow
ing methods for the disposal of the |
public lands of the Republic:
L At public auction for cash in par
GELS OF not over 1000 acres, the consent /
of the executive council being required |
before any lands could be disposed 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 exchange
for private lands, or by way of COM
promise.
T. BY lease at public auction for not
more than twenty-one gears
5. BY homestead leases, under which
each applicant might occupy eight acres
or hrst-class agricultural lands, sixteen
acres OF second-class agricultural lands.
one acre Of taro land, 30 acres of first
class pastoral land, 50 acres of second
class pastoral land, or IS acres of pas
,oral-agricultural lands. Certain quail
ficauons Were prescribed for these home
steaders.
8. Risht-of-purchase leases, under
which a qualified applicant could occupy.
with the privilege OF purchasing at the
end OF three years, and upon the fulfill
ment Of special conditions, either 100
acres OF hrst-class agricultural lands, 200 Z
acres OF second-ciass agricultural lands.
two acres OF taro lands, COO acres OF first
class pastoral lands, 100 acres of sec {