The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-02-23
GOOD FIRST
VIEW HAD
Forester hosmer Gives
Impressions Of His
Hawaii Tour.


port to the Board of Agriculture at
Wednesdays meeting on his investi-
CATION of the forests of Hawaii. Mr..
Hosmer believes that there are great
possibilities IN the forestry develop
ment\Uf the islands and also in the
settlement of homestead land. To an
Advertiser reporter Mr.. Hosmer said
yesterday.
my trip to the Island of Hawaii
was one full Of interest and value to
me. When 1 left Honolulu on the 10th
of January, in company with Mr.. AL
fred w. Carter of the Board of Agri-
culture and Forestry, it was with the
intention of visiting the districts of
Kohala hid Hamakua only, and of
spending some three weeks in de-
tailed examination of the proposed
forest reserves in that portion of the
Island. This plan, however, was
modified before we left the Kinau, by
an invitation from Governor Carter to
accompany him 10 Kohala district.
Later the invitation was extended to
cover the entire trip, so that I was
member of the Governors immediate
party. during his whole tour around
the Island.
This opportunity of seeing the ISL
and of Hawaii was an exceptionally
fine one, for the party was given ev-
cry facility for getting to the inter-
esting places quickly and easily and
a every point on the way where
cordial greeting could be given to the
Governor and his party we expert
enced the true Hawaiian hospitality
from the natives as well as the plan
taton and ranch managers.
TT has never before been my good
fortune to visit country where every
one seemed so intent on making a
party have a good time. 1 am sure
that all those who accompanied the
Governor and Mr.. Atkinson will ever
look back to the trip as a series of red
letter days.
From professional standpoint the
trip was a very valuable one to me,
for, in travelling around the Island as
We did, we saw much of the forest in
the several districts and got an ex-
celent idea of the various problems in
which the forest plays part. From
the nature of the trip it was of course
one locality, but 1 feel that I know
now where the forest land in each dis
trict is, what trees go to make up the
forest and in a general way what the
problems are in each district. By
making such a reconnaissance one is
better able too, to judge of the rela-
tive Importance of the questions in
volved, than if detailed work We're be-
gun at once.
Another important and pleasant
feature of the trip was the oppor-
tunity afforded to meet the gentlemen
who represent the important interests
in Hawaii, the managers of the sugar
plantations, the cattle men and those
who carry on the other industries
which bid fair in time, to play a large
part in the Island.
throughout the Island there exists
an excellent public sentiment in regard
to the preservation of the forests for
the benefit OF the general prosperity
of the Island Almost to a man the
gentlemen with whom l talked recog- |
niZed the need of forest reserves and |
the value of such reservations as con- |
serve rs of water. There may be diff
ferences of opinion as to where the |
lines of the proposed forest reserves
should be, but 1 believe the outioolA
for cooperation among those inter-
ested to be very bright.
THE exact location and extent of
each forest reserve are questions
which can only be satisfactorily set
tied after an examination of each
locality on the ground and study of
the conditions existing in each place
including consultation with the people
involved. These examinations I eX-
pect to make in the future, visiting
each district as soon as may be, Aft
er this work has been done | shall be
in position to make definite recon-
menda tons as to what in my judg-
ment, ought in each case to be done.
THE relation of the forests to rain
fall is a question of great Importance
to the people of Hawaii, especially in
the drier districts. In certain situa
tons the presence of forest doubtless
has marked influence on precipita-
ton, but taken by and large, it is the
effect of the forest in retaining the
rain that falls. rather than in causing
it to fall. that seems to me to be
most important The presence of
forest cover on the slopes holds back
good share of the run-of and makes
available for a much longer time the
water received from the clouds.
THE question of homesteads on
Government lands is one that was fire.
quently brought to the attention of
Governor Carter during the trip and
ss the proposed locations are usually
in the edge of the forest 1t becomes a
forest question. In my judgment
there are many localities on Hawaii
where strip of land above the cane
lands and below the forest could well
be devoted to homesteads without
detriment TO the forest reserve and
with benefit TO the community. The
problem is mainly one Of transporta-
ton, for unless a homestead tract is
made accessible there is small chance
of its being successful.