The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-08-23
SMALL FARMING.

In the weekly commercial resume of
the Advertiser on Sunday last there
We're some observations that deserve
the serious consideration of the Terri
torial government. The gist of the
paragraph referred to is that "a spe-
cialiZed branch in charge of a sub
committee or an auxiliary bureau of
the Promotion" organization, should
cooperate with the land department in
facilitating immigrants who desire to
| engage in small farming. This sugges-
ton is timely and important.
In different parts of the islands, and
especially on the island of Hawaii, it is
believed that the development of small
farming, which in North and South
Kona and in many other districts is
quite feasible, is hampered, not only
by the private holders of large tracts of
land, but by the land department it.
self. 1t is claimed that, If the Federal
Government does not take over the
management of the public lands, our
local policy should be at least ASST
inflated to the Homestead Act, but that.
while professions are repeated and
strong, the practice is in the opposite
direction. II is insisted by enterprising
and prominent men that, under the
guise of protecting the forests, large
areas of land are withdrawn that might
I be and ought to be available for horti-
cultural and agricultural purposes.
Many observers argue that the reserva-
ton OF forests on the mainland and in
this Territory are two distinct questions
that require different treatment. 1t Is
urged with vigor and pertinacity, that
here rains are precipitated from the
ocean and are controlled by the winds
| and not by the forests, which are
chiefly serviceabe in retaining the mois-
ture, after it has fallen, and there
fore, that the woods on the mountain
slopes do not originate the rainfall,
though potent influence in it's gradual
and economic distribution.
These are questions that the local
government should treat with gravity
and with thoroughness. No one doubts
the utility of legitimate rorest-protec-
ton. But, if under this preteXt, large
bodies of land are withheld from men
who desire permanent settlement and
have the means and the experience to
increase Territorial population and
wealth, such policy should be prompt
ly modified. 1t is the dividing line be-
tween reservation and settlement that
is in dispute. If the reservations run
too low down on the mountain sides,
! they should be contracted and the
| cupidity and selhshness of either in
! dividuals or corporations that repre-
sent special interests and are inimica
to the general welfare, should not be
allowed to stand in the way.
The present local administration has
shown an inclination to consult III,
actual necessities or wants of the is
lands. II now has an opportunity I,
prove the breadth of its capacity by
cooperating with the Promotion com
mittee in a direction that means per
manent enlargement of our resources
and the addition OF intelligent and sta
bile elements of citizenship.
Americanization, surely under Repub
llcan administrations, does not meal
playing into the hands OF accumulatici
for the benefit of the few ana treating
the many with patrrnul benevolence
but the growth of iudiyiduultled citizen
ship, equality OF opportunity uudrr IN
law, the fun recognition of sturdy am,
independent vitiErus, of whom -mul
farmers are probably the most sJulWar
class,