The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-25


on my return to Hawaii I can at one
get down to business.
I was greatly impressed ana rlaaso,
to find what an excellent public senti
ment existed among these men in r.
gard to the necessity and fmportane.
of forest preseryatio.4 Almost with.
out a dissenting voice the rner VIII
whom 1 talked seemed TO be in fayo,
OF the establishment of forest reserves
There We're, Of course, differences o.
opinion as to where the reserve line,
should be drawn, which will doubtless
be more marked than at present before
the matter is settled. but to my mind
it is great thing that so healthy a
sentiment exists, for 1 believe that the
various interests involved can be
brought to cooperate in the establish
ment of reserves, which will plav a
large part in the development of the
island.
| My tour Of Hawaii makes me feel
more strongly than ever that
each forest problem must be studied
| individually This has been found to
be the case on the mainland and is
none the less true here In the estab-
lishment of forest reserves no hard
and fast rule can be laid down that
the boundary lines shall follow a GER
tain contour or given tract division.
but each case must be carefully in
vestigated, the local conditions studied
and consultation had with the men
representing the interests involved. be-
fore recommendations can be made.
In certain districts there seems to be
more immediate need that forest re-
serves be established than in Others.
Such a locality, as was pointed out by
Mr.. w. L. Hall, after his examination
last summer, is the Kohala mountain
reserve. This, in my judgment, is
where the first work of a forest nature
on Hawaii should be done, and I hope
to be able to return to that district
within comparatively short time.
The question of the location of home
stead tracts is essentially a forest
problem, because in most instances the
proposed locations are within the for
est belt. This question is one of the
live issues on Hawaii at the present
time and was constantly brought to
Governor Carriers attention during our
trip. Personally, I am distinctly in
favor of the homestead principle and
l believe that there are many places
on the Island of Hawaii where home
steads could be successfully made. |
But [ think this question, like other
forest problems, needs to be carefully
studied on the ground, before recon- |
mendations can be made Many of !
the homestead tracts which our party |
visited are SO inaccessible that under |
present conditions they can never be |
successful Transportation is the |
crucial point in this matter, and I'M |
less the homestead tract is SO located |
that roads can be built and maintained |
there is no use, it seems to me, in es-
tablishing it.
During our trip around the island I |
had the pleasure of meeting number |
Of the consulting foresters in the sew
eral districts. These gentlemen all |
seem to be taking real interest in the t
forest work and gave me much valu- |
able information in regard to forests !
and forest problems, in their several |
districts.
I was impressed in talking with these !
gentlemen, by the work which has been |
lone in the introduction of exotic trees,
in the island. 1t is my hope that |
definite statements of what has been
accomplished may be got from the diff |
ferent people, who have planted new |
such information when compiled and i
,abulated would be of no small value. |
It is my intention to continue the work |
Of introducing new trees, especially |
hose commercially important, on these |
Stands and I hope to be able to find |
certain species which can be used to .
'eforest waste and barren places.
Our first and most important work, |
It seems to me, lies in the establish |
nent of forest reserves, and the prop |
ar organization of an administrative |
orce. AS soon as that is satisfactorily
I believe that a great
leal can be done in the way of intro |
iucing new trees on lands which are
1t present of little or no value to any
me. From what I saw of Hawaii I /
believe that it is entirely feasible to
10 this and that, In the future, we
nay look for valuable results.
/ am very glad to report that the Di-
,ision of Forestry is now established
n its new quarters in the building |
It the Government nursery, and that
within a few days the reference library
will be ready for use by those who
wish TO consult it. Within a short
ine I shall bring before the Board
commentators in regard to the Gov
rnment nursery, the planting in Nuu-
nu valley, and the organization of the
division of Forestry.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH S. HOSMER,
Superintendent of Forestry.
AS TO HOMESTEADS.
Mr.. Brown spoke of the reference to
omesteads in Mr.. Hosmer's report.