The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-23
THE RESOURCES AND NEEDS
OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

Dor, but unfortunately the average Porto
Rican immigrant is not a steady worker,
nor accustomed to work except by his
own measure. When he is tired of work
ing he will quit any day, and his en-
ployer may fret to no purpose.
From the proper point of view of the
best advantage to the Islands-their
most rapid and stable development-there
s--ould be a modificat ton, in my judg-
mem, of the present range of exclusion
under the Geary Act-permitting the en-
trance and employment of a certain fixed
number of Chinese Iaborers, simply suffi-
cient for the urgent needs of the sugar
plantations. This concession, as | have
pointed out would not be oppressive to
the Hawaiian native, for the native does
not want to labor in the sugar fields.
On the other hand, it would be clearly
to his advantage to stimulate, as far az
practicable, the chief industry of the ISL
ands; for the development of this indus
try will expand necessarily every other
opening for employment, extending the
commerce of the Islands and furnishing
more abundant means for other internal
development. l believe that the more in
telligent natives, who practically make
and mark popular opinion, will appre-
ciate this fact and put no block in the
way of this measure.
able outside opposition to such consid-
crate and careful amendment of the
Geary Act, for it will be difficult to puff
UP any bugbear of Chinese competition
The total feasible sugar production of
the Islands hardly exceed 100000 tons, in
my judgment, and this total can hardly
be reached under the most advantageous
conditions in face of the rising home pro-
duct and the probable developments in
no hn do raIationc that
VIII be formed with the United States.
This is not, and should not be allowed
to become a political issue. 1t is strictly
an economic condition that confronts us
a plain business concern to be consider
ed soberly, judicieusly, periodically. and
with a rightful appreciation of our ma
tional responsibility to the people of the
Islands who have welcomed union with
our great republic in full reliance on its
guardianship. 1t should be brought home
to every mind that every ton of sugar or
any other product of the Islands means
the enlarged purchase of products of the
farmers and manufacturers of the Unit
ed States mainland. Whatever stimulates
Hawaifs production is therefore, inevi-
tably, doubly stimulating to the national
production. Practically all the hay and
feed now consumed on the Islands is inn
ported from the Pacific Slope, and that
great section has perhaps the largesl
proportional stake in the prosperity oil
the Islands. But this is not a sectional
question. 1t is broadly national in its ap-
peal to the nations interest and honor
If there is a current impression that
the sugar plantations of the Islands are
! largely a monopoly of the Spreckels, it is
mis- aiken one. The Spreckels are not
among the large owners. There are ap.
| proXimately sixty plantations and the
! Hackfeld & Co. G. Brewer & Co, Thee
! II. Davies & Co., Alexander & Baiuwin
! w. G.. Irwin & Co, b. F. Dillingham; and
F a. Schaefer & Co.
| There are no refineres on the Islands
and comparatively little of the sugar
crop goes into home consumption. Prac
tically all is exported, and almost al
this export comes to New York and Sar
Francisco. Steam transportation has al
most entirely supplanted sailing vessel!
in this carrying trade. Probably no
more than 10000 tons are now carried il
ships under sail.
| The return freights to the Islands ar,
in greater part a miscellaneous assert
ment of manufactured goods-dry goods
| hardware. structural iron and nails. re
fined and lubricating oils. etc The bull
o. the goods for the market demand o
the natives and common laborers run
from medium to low grade, but there i
a considerable demand for higher elias
goods for the, supply of Honoluu-now
| thriving city with a population of 1906
and a number Of fire stores.