The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-06-17
INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION.
lrhe establishment of the present ag-
ri,ultural experiment station m the
Hawaiian Islands had it's inception in
The appropriation made by the Fifty
sixth Congress. first session, when the
sun, of $4,000 was granted TO enable
the Secretary of Agriculture TO investi-
cate the field and establish an expert
rnent station in Hawaii as has been
done elsewhere. In pursuance OF the
act of Congress, DIR. w. G. Stubbs, di-
rector of the Louisiana Agricultural
Experiment Stations, was cent TO Ha-
vail during the summer of 1900, and
the results of his inquiry are given in
= report transmitted to Congress in
January, 1901, and published as House
Doe. 1858 (Fifty-sixth Congress. second
SESSION., and afterwards as Bulletin 70
81 the Office of Experiment Stations of
The u. S. Department of Agriculture.
Dr. Stubs was instructed to investi-
gate the agricultural conditions OF the
islands, with special reference To the
organization and work Of an expert
Tnent station. II was recommended by
him that the station to be established
should be under the control OF the Sec
rotary of Agriculture and independent
of local institutions. A station for the
study OF ali matters pertaining 10 the
sugar mas DttU iOl
a number OF years by the Hawaiian
sugar Planters Association, and as IL
VIII continued TO prosecute its work
upon problems relating to the sugar in
drtry IL was believed best that the
citation to be established under the
auspices Of the Department OF Agricul-
ture should devote it's energies chiefly
To other agricultural interests. Among
the subjects to which II was suggested
the nation should give its attention are
the culture of fruits, vegetables, rice,
forage crops, coffee growing, stock rails
ing, dairying, irrigation and forestry.
After comforting with the local au-
thorities, the tract known as kewalo-
aka, adjoining the city Of Honolulu,
was recommended az a site for the sta
ton. This tract had been set aside by
former officials for experimental inves-
legations in agriculture and forestry.
Az examination OF the records Of the
former Hawaiian government showed
that while there was very evident IN
teAtion to reserve this land for expert
mental purposes. the necessary formal
tiles were never fully carried out. Sub
.eduently 20 acres was reserved by
Presidential proclamation as "A site for
q hospital for the Navy Department,
and seven acres for the same purpose
for the Marine Hospital Service under
the Treasury Department
Acting upon suggestions made In the
preliminary report, Congress appropri-
ated $1,000 for continuing the work
during the current fiscal year, and i'm
mediate measures were taken to eStab-
Iish and equip station in accordance
with the above recommendations. Ac-
ccrdingly the writer was transferred to
he Office OF the Experiment Stations
from the Section Of Seed and Plant In
PRODUCTION OF the Department Of Agri-
culture, and was charged with the re-
sponsibility of beginning the work OF
organization Of the Hawaii Agrtcul-
tural Experiment Station. In carrying
out my instructions / left Washington,
ID. c.. March q, 1901, arriving in Homo
lulu on April 9, and at once began ac-
tive operations to carry out the desires
OF the honorable Secretary Of Agricul-
ture as understood them.
A temporary office was secured In the
Territorial capitol building and was
fitted up with desks, Office furniture,
bookcases, etc.
DETAILED REPORT OF WORK.
1he period from April 6 to May Is
vas occupied In making preliminary
surveys OF the land which had been set
apart for the use OF the station, the
Kewalo- uka tract in Makiki valley, ad
jacent to the city of Honolulu. This
tract, containing 15i acres, lying along
ise southeast slope Of the Punchbowl
and Tantalus ridge, IL nearly two miles
long and has a maximum width of
about 800 yards at It's lowest portion.
nearest the city, and about 100 yards at
The upper end. The elevation ranges
fl nm 125 feet, nearest the city, to 1850
feet on the end nearest Mount Tanta-
ius. the height of that peak being 2Ol3
feet
Although the preliminary arrange
Rsnts had been entered into In Sep
teDber. 1900, between the governor OF
he Territory and DR.. Stubs, yet the
formal transfer did not take place I'M
iii June TO- 1901, when two tracts were
reserved to the Territory, one OF 10
acres as a stone quarry and second
Of - acres on the slopes and within
the crater of Punchbowl Hill, which
Wa reserved for public park. BY
The courtesy of the Secretary Of the
Navy this Department was granted the
temporary use Of the naval hospital
site for experimental purposes. The
work of clearing the land and erecting
buildings was begun with as little de-
lay as possible. Twenty-four acres,
comprising all Of the Naval Hospital
Reservation and land adjacent to It,
WAS cleared Of a dense growth OF guava
and iantana bushes. prickly pear, and
sisaroba or mesquite bean woods. The
contract under which the work was
pNItOEhVo Caheu the TtInONhl oI oil
Tree stumps and roots and plowing the
lane to the depth OF 20 inches. This
work was not completed within the
period agreed upon, but was carried
out in an extremely careful manner,
rejecting great credit upon the con-
trastor. The cost Of this work amount
ed to $50 per acre. About 20 cords OF
wood. worth 31e q cord. were obtained
from this land and are now on hand
subject TO sale
Thirteen acres Of 1S-yeaI- old planted
eucalyptus or Australian gum forest
was also cleared at the upper end OF
the tract at . contract price Of SIS
per acre. The trees were very dense
in this forest. all tho cost Of removal
or roots and stumps much greater than
in the open algaroba and guava woods
at the lower elevation. This contract
was carried out by Japanese labor and
was not as efficiently performed as the
previous one, given TO an American
fra. About 400 cords OF wood were
secured by the station, valued at SO to
NE per cord.
- al I.s a..