The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-10-25
THE RESOURCES AND NEEDS
OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

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 modification, in my judg-
men,, of the present range of exclusion
under the Geary Act-permitting the en-
trance and employment OF a certain fixed
number of Chinese laborers, simply sufii-
cient for the urgent needs of the sugar
plantations. This concession, as l 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. 1t would be clearly
to his advantage to stimulate, as far as
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.
| There should he, further no consider
able outside opposition to such consid-
crate and careful amendment of the
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
he reached under the most advantageous
conditions in face of the rising home pro-
duct and the probable developments in
Cuba, with the close trade relations that
VIII be formed with the United States.
This is not and should not be allowed
to become political issue. 1t Is strictly
an economic condition that confronts us,
plain business concern to be consider
ed soberly, judiciously. periodically. and
with Il rghtful appreciation of our ma
tional responsibility to the people of the
Islands. who have welcomed union with
our great republic in fun reliance on its
guardianship. 1t should Inc 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
Hawai!'s production is therefore, inevi-
taby, doubly stimulating to the national
production. Practically all the hay and
feed now consumed on the Islands Is i'm
ported from the Pacific Slope. and that
great section has perhaps the largesl
proportional stake in the prosperity of
the Islands. But this is not a sectional
question. 1t is broadly national in it's APP
peal to the nations interest and honor.
! If there Is a current impression that
the sugar plantations of the Islands are
largely monopoly of the Spreckels. ii is
a mis- aiken one. The Spreckels are not
among the large owners. There are APP
proximately sixty plantations, and the
chief operators are Castle 4 Cooke, II
Hackfeld 4 Co, G. Brewer d Co. Thee.
II. Davies g. Co., Alexander q Ba,uwin,
w. c. Irwin & Co, Il. +. Dillingham; and
| f. A. Schaefer d Co.
There are no refineries on the Islands
and comparatively little of the sugar
crop goes into home consumption. Prac-
tically all is exported, and almost all
this export comes to New York and San
Francisco Steam transportation has al
most entirely supplanted sailing vessels
in this carrying trade. Probably not
more than 20,o00 tons are now carried in
ships under sail.
The return freights to the islands are
in greater part miscellaneous assort-
ment of manufactured goods-dry goods
hardware, structural iron and nails, re-
fined and lubricatns oils etc. The bulk
o. the goods for the market demand OF
the natives and common laborers runs
from medium to low grade, but there is
"A considerable demand for higher class
goods for the supply of Honolut-now a
thriving city with population of 30,O0t
and a number of fine stores