Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-06-15
EAwAII'S INDUSTRIES.

The United States Commissioner of
10 Dor Mr.. Carroll D. Wright, makes
some interesting remarks concerning
the staple industries of Hawaii. He
finds that the production of sugar con.
slitutes the. principal industry of the
Territory, practically all other indus.
tries, and, indeed, the prosperity OF
the Islands, being dependent upon IT,
Almost all of the available lands suit.
able for growing sugar cane are used
Tor this purpose. the quantity OF land
available for any purpose, however, is
comparatively small, only the rims OF
the Islands being used, as their int.
| rlors are generally mountainous and
barren. Being of recent volcanic orr.
gin, a sufficient time has not elapsed
since their formation to allow the
greater proportion Of their areas TO
reach a condition of fertility.
The industry OF rice growing is also
TN important one, and is carried on
principally by the Chinese, who utilize
Coves, inlets, and islands that cannot
ne profitably used for sugar cane grow.
ing, but which, by reason of the rich.
rCss of their soil and their location as
regards water, are well adapted to the
purpose for which they are used. The
rice grown Is of a superior quality and
its cultivation profitable, the yield be.
ing heavy and two crops being har.
vested annually. Sufficient is grown
20 satisfy the requirements of the Ter.
r.tory and to afford a considerable
quantity for export but 1t is said that
the cultivation of this crop has reach
ed its maximum point. This is the only
important food product grown in the
Territory except sugar. coffee and taro
n root largely used by the native Ha
waiians as food and grown in sufficient
quantities to supply home consump
ton. Large quantities of foodstuffs
both animal and vegetable, must there
, lore be brought to the Islands. Tn,
production of sugars. says Mr.. Wright
las proved so highly profitable as t,
prevent the cultivation of other crop
which would not yield such grea
, financial returns, although II is prob
!. pble that they could be successfully
Y and proftably grown. The raising o
q OCps other than those mentioned has
however, not yet gone beyond the e,
perimental stage.
In the city of Honolulu, where 25.5
= per cent of the entire population of tn
Y Territory Is concentrated, many thirty
9 ing industries are established whic
J. largely supply the needs and convC
niences of the people. Two large iro
works and machine shops, employin
several hundred workmen, are col
a stantly in operation building or repai
n ing sugar mill, plantation or steamshi
y machinery. Their business is so larg
y that they frequently run both nigt
;. and day, and often have difficulty
securing a sufficient number of en-
!oyees to handle the work entruste
a TO them. Several woodworking e
i adjustments are kept busy Continl
> Chsly; a carriage factory does a thri
g ing business; the electric light an
q lower companies are largely patroni
8 ed; artificial Ice plants, a moder
y brewery, many building contractors r
Quired by the rapid growth of the cit
. and its extensive and expensive in
Q Trovements, these and other minor Il
?, dustrles give employment to practlca
n iy all who desire and are able to wor
. at wages considerably higher than II
, average wages paid in the States.
/. The great mass of labor, however,
e employed outside of Honolulu by II
u sugar producing establishments of Il
territory, either at general or plant
ton work, at agricultural labor, on IL
\. Elontation railroads, or in the sugI
/. mills, which convert the cane into II
r finished product; and by far the lar
:, er part of the labor is unskilled, q
though on every sugar plantation theI