Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-03
ADVANCEMENT OF THE HAWAII.
AN ISLANDS.

all SApSCtaCOuS OIL tiG IuOSC OpClnlSClC.
From a secluded little island archipel-
ago, with a limited number of indus
tries, with a small commerce and with
out any encouragement from the insu-
lar government to persons desiring to
enlarge its interests, the little island
territory has suddenly grown to be the
center of great activities and enlarg-
ed enterprises.
Probably in no department of activ-
ity is this expansion shown to such a
marked degree as in it's agricultural
interests. Improved methods of op-
GRAFTON have been introduced. Inter
est in the greater Investigation of ag-
ricultural products to meet the de-
mands of the United States for trop-
ical products of all kinds. Shortly aft
er the annexation of the Islands by
the United States, a committee was or
ganized to promote the agricultural
interests. BY a recent statement made
by that committee to the people of the
islands it is possible to judge some
thing as to the advancement that has
been made. 1t says:
THE Importance and almost necessi-
ty Of an institution like the one con-
templated. is too evident to require
exposition. For years past the agri-
cultural interests of these islands have
been insignificant and their pursuit
improbable. With an uncertain and
distant market-with little or no en-
couragement or facilities given to for
eign tillers of the soil, without prop
err knowledge of the soil of sufficient
capital to experiment upon it's capa-
bilities, most Of the agricultural enter
prises have languished OF utterly fail
ed. And with the exception of a few
sugar and coffee plantations, the pro-
prietors of which have invested too
much capital to be able to abandon
them without heavy loss, and which
We're still struggling along with doubt
full prospects. the whole amount of
agricultural operations in these islands
consisted in the raising of fruit and
vegetables for the fleet of whaleships
that semi-annually touched here for
supplies.
Within the last two years, how
ever, a great and sudden change has
taken place in the prospects of this
group. The extension of the territory
and government of the United States
to the borders of the Pacific the Won
derful discoveries in Ca%lifornia,and the
consequent. almost instantaneous ere
alton of a mighty state ON the western
front of the American Union, has as it
were, with the wand of a magician,
this little group into the very
focus Of prosperity and civilization. We
find ourselves suddenly surrounded by
intelligent enterprising neighbors who
call loudly to lis to furnish of our sub
and receive in exchange theirs.
Our coffee and sugar no longer remain
piled in warehouses. Our fruits
and vegetables no longer decay on the
spot where they are grown. We are
not even compelled to seek for them
a market, but clamorous purchasers
come to our very doors and carry off
our supplies with an eagerness that
has caused us to feel a scarcity our
only for all these. but for any other
products of the soil that we will raise
ready and increasing demand may be
relied upon from our enterprising
The native government
too, impelled by the irresistible influence
and example of the Anglo-Saxon en-
ergy and progress which it sees in
every direction, is relaxing it's for
.er tenacious grasp on the arabic
lands of the islands, and even inviting
and encouraging their cultivation by
skill and capital"
The progress Of the island territory
the past few years is bue indi-
of the great advancement that
may be expected in the archipelago of
the future, as the people become more