The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-09-30
CORPORATION HOLDINGS
Of THE PUBLIC LANDS
W. o. Smith Explains Need for Large Tracts
on Which Expensive Plants
Are treCted.

Among the valuable statistics pre-
pared and submitted to the Senatorial
Commission by W. o. Smith were the
figures relating to the lands now held
by corporations and the acquisition of
them. The members Of the commission
also showed considerable interest In the
matter of the output OF the various
plantations, and the table which Is Civ
EN- in the subjoined papers shows fig
Ures which will supply the Information.
The two papers follow:
ACQUISITION or LAND BY CoRPOR-
ATIONS.
To the Honorable Senate Committee.
Gentlemen;
In addition to statements already made
by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Asso-
citation, we desire to call attention to the
clause in Section So of the Organic Act
which provides:
THAT no corporation domestic or for
eign. shall acquire and hold real estate
In Hawaii in excess Of one thousand
acres. and all real estate acquired or held
by such corporation or association con-
trary hereto shall be forfeited and escheat
to the United States, but existing vested
rights in real estate shall not be I'M
paired"
This provision apparently was intended
to prevent the sitting of competition and
controlling of prices by corporations, and
to encourage the cultivation of small
tracts of land by individuals.
Every right thinking man desires that
which will promote the best interests OF
the community in which ne lives, and
II the strict enforcement of this provision
would promote the development of the
resources of these Islands, and tend to
create a class of small farmers, and in
duce the immigration of those who would
acquire holdings and establish homes,
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 its object, but is a serious obstacle
I'm 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-
tabish a 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 1t can be produced at proft 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 cle'
| vations; and the rains fall mainly upon
| the northerly and easterly side of oacf
| Island from clouds brought in by the pre-
| vailing 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
d. 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
gurges 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-
|