The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-06
Continued from Page 81

increasing that industry. New pianta-
tons, with an aggregate capital of over
SIS, 600, were started and old ones en-
larged. The people have been struggling
manfully for the past three years to
meet the assessments on their stock to
pay for the immense amount of planta-
ton machinery bought in the States and
now wish to enjoy the rewards for their
confidence in American protection
Hawaii cannot produce sugar as cheap
ly as Cuba. / wish / had the reports
for last year of all the plantations so
/ could state what the average cost was
L have, however. as stockholder, re-
Gently received the annual reports of
three plantations, the figures from which
VIII give fair idea of the cost of pro-
/ducing sugar in Hawaii These planta-
tons are three of the best on the ISL
ands, and are fair representatives of the
different kinds. Oahu is a large estate
situated on the Island of Oahu, and is
what is known as an irrigated planta-
ton; S4,6D0 900 has been invested in this
plantation. The other two Honomu and
Wailuku, are smaller estates, one situat-
ed on the Island. of Maui, and the other
on Hawaii Both of these plantations
are among the oldest and are fully de-
veloped.
Oahu last year produced 21,45O tons of
sugar, for which 1t received 81, AIS 421 Sc,
or S67.30 per ton. The operating expenses
We're S1,O16,S66.0s, or SAT per on. A net
profit of $3.50 per ton. The duty on 90
per cent centrifugal is 1.6S5, about sS3 20
per ton. Take this protection away and
every ton of sugar produced by this plan
tation last year would have been at a
loss of $14. 40.
Honomu produced last year 4402 tons,
receiving S342.32S.0 5, or $77.27 per ton, and
its operating expenses We're $3.50, 74.35, or
$6426 per ton; a net profit of $13.01 per
ton. This plantation without the protec-
tive duty would produce it's sugar at a
loss of s20.67 per ton.
Waikiki states in its report for last
year that the cost of producing a ton of
sugar was s46.41. The average cost OF
these three plantations was $Go.10 per
ton. l have not picked out three of the
worst plantations; have given you the
figures from all the reports I have. 1
am sorry that L cannot furnish the aver
age cost of all the plantations, as 1 feel
confident the figures would be substan-
TALLY the same.
1 do not wish to be understood as !
that this state of affairs has al |
ways prevailed in the Islands, or that |
Hawaii VIII always need the present !
protective duty. Prior to the extension I
of the American labor and immigration
laws sugar was produced much more
cheaply than now. Personally, as
L have confidence in the
business ability of those who have been
crops with rs per cent of the labor need
I'd to overcome all difficulties. Give them
ime and l am sure they will find some
spot on this earth where labor can be
procured at fair price What we do
lsk is that we are not made to compete
With country at present, more favor
IDLY situated than Hawaii.
One of the gentlemen who spoke last
week mentioned the fact that this con-
ession to Cuba would mean great
rofit to American shipping. Hawaii has
he proud distinction of being the one q
in the world where American =
hipping predominates. l have not the ::
cures for the past year, but in a report :
made to the Department of State on ,
he shipping of the Islands for 1897, I .
howed that 81 per cent of the products :.
f the Islands was carried in American .
ottoms. The New York Mail and tx
ress of March 8, 1898, commenting on
~ report, said:
These figures present an argument =
'hich the business Judgment of the :
louise cannot resist They show that =
laval is the one territory in the world
here American commercial influence is -
OF only supreme, but steadily advanc- -
g. The expansion of trade interests n "
lie Pacific Ocean which is sure to follow
lie great international projects now I'M =
n way in the far East will increase the },
plume and value of Hawaifs commerce y
cry year HAWAII Is bOulu TO become
lie central depot of this vast traffic, and
e nation which controls that port win =
hoy a position of almost incalculable U
Vantage in the trade between Asia and
urope''
Hawaii exchanged these advantages for .,
free protected market. I do not be- :,
we Cuba can offer as much. If Cuba fl
eds charity give it to her as such, but hi
It in the form of concessions to alb A
ntee landlords. Remember the famil IN
r proverb which is best expressed by to
c French: We'll regulated charity be nj
rs at home. Al
Win the free entry of Cuban sugar n,
TT the Territory of Hawaii? I believe re-
will. Cuba in 1894. without a free mar ia
t and under Spanish misrule found 1t ON
oftable to produce 100000 tons or SUI ~,
r at a profit of 10 per cent, and accord .
: to a statement made by Mr. VIM. 81,
met %. 527, Cuban Census), could ed
We ground more than that had it not .
IN for the war" on
f she can do so well under such adj re,
-se circumstances as prevailed al that ca
lie, what will she produce when she is brt
on more than an equality with the
ler:can planter? Listen TO what Mr..
bert p. Porter, Special Commissioner
m the United States to Cuba, says W.
Dut the possibilities of Cuban sugar. IN
u will find it on page 525 of the Cuban bill
nsus: pre-
With millions of acres of the richest Sta
l best cane land on the globe yet un- lnl'
ched by the pillow. with a climate I'M the
passed for the growth and develop an,
MT of sugar cane, and with prestige the
Cuban sugar second to none in the cat
rkets of the world. the future of Gil or
: sugar presents a possibility of ser
1ith SURPRISING the richness of the SOU
d and silver which came to Columbus of
the marvellous tales of the interior of of
magnificent island which he had dis Ian
cred cir
could quote ODi0iADS like life