The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-09-27

: acquire holdings ana estapIlSh MONIES
there would be no question as to the WIS
dom of the law.
But. under the conditions existing here
we submit that the provision will not only
fail in it's object, but is serious obstacle
in the way of the development of these
, Islands.
| The paper upon the labor problem
! heretofore presented, sets forth the facts
! as to the sugar industry being the great
| and chief industry of the Islands. and
mentions the large capital required to es-
tablish sugar plantation. With the low
prices of sugar in the worlds markets,
resulting from the greatly increased
production of both cane and beet sugar,
| in the sugar producing countries, the
margin of profits in becoming very
small; and under the conditions existing
here it can be produced at a profit only
when cultivated and manufactured on a
large scale.
More than two-thirds of the cane grown
in these Islands is produced by artificial
irrigation Water for irrigation, in guam
titles sufficient to justify engaging in
cane culture, can only be obtained from
surface streams or by pumping from sub
terranean sources.
These Islands are of volcanic formation.
rising abruptly from the sea to high eie-
vations; and the rains fall mainly upon
the northerly and easterly side of each
Island from clouds brought in by the pre-
vaiIing northeast trade winds.
Owing to the nature of the formation,
and of the rains, the exposed portions
have been worn into deep gorges with
high ridges between them. In many in-
stances these gorges are from hundreds
to thousands of feet in depth, with preci-
pitous Sides and follow each other in
close succession with but small areas of
land between suitable for cultivation.
For the most part the arabic land is far
removed from the source of the water
supply and to convey the water from the
gorges in the rainy belt to the arid sec
tons, bitches of many miles in length
are required, as also pipe lines to cross
the intervening valleys. Dams. reservoirs
and fumes are also needed in many in
stances.
In obtaining water by pumping from
below the surface powerful machinery
and pipe lines of large capacity are re-
qured.
To procure an adequate supply of water
the expense involved, in the first instance
ranges from 100000 to 100000 and in
maintaining these irrigation bitches and
pipe lines and pumping plants, heavy eX
pense is incurred.
The machinery, buildings and appli-
ances necessary to manufacture sugar on
a scale to justify the undertaking, costs
also from 100000 to 1000 and upwards
These conditions prevent the engaging
in sugar culture by any excepting those
with large capital, unless the small capital
of many persons is associated. This asso-
citation is generally accomplished by
means of Incorporated joint-stock com
panies.
Most of the sugar companies of these
Islands are Incorporated and the shares
of stock are held by persons in every
walk in life. a single corporation will
have hundreds of stockholders. If prof
it's are made it does not result to the
benefit of merely few large capitalists.
but is shared by large number of per-
sons, many of whom are of small means.
While the yield of sugar per acre is
occasionally large, from eighteen to TWEEN
ty-four mon,As elapses from the time the
land is broken for planting until the har-
vesting is concluded. Planting is general
ly done in the summer months, and the
grinding is begun about November of the
following year and finished about the fol-
lowing June. Thus the crops overlap.
Moreover fields cannot be continuously
cropped, but must be allowed to lie fallow
from time to time Thus generally about
three times the area of land is needed to
maintain continuous yields. than is re-
quired to produce a single crop.
One thousand acres of land will permit
of the continuous annual planting of
about three hundred acres, which is not
sufficient to justify the venture.
1t must be borne in mind that in most
instances the land suitable for sugar Gull
ture does not interfere with the lands
suitable for the growing of rice, coffee
ana other products. There are sufficient
areas of land available for these minor
Industries for all demands which are like
ly to arise for them.
The one-thousand acre restriction does
not apply to the mainland, and under the
conditions which exist here, it not only
fails to accomplish the object sought, but
is a serious obstacle in the development
of the country.
IL the provision cannot be repealed it
should be modified in some reasonable
way. To make the restriction apply only
to the acquisition of public lands would
be less Objectionable.
We earnestly recommend the subject to
your consideration.
A table is hereto appended giving the
| number of stockholders of each of the
sugar corporations
Respectfully submitted,
| Honolulu, T. H., September -, 1902
| STATEMENT SHOWING COST OE
| PRODUCTION OF SUGAR PER
/