The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-09-09

land by the transport Sherman. He Il
doing for the Philippine Islands ser
vice such as Forester Hosmer is doinl
for the Hawaiian Islands, though by
somewhat different methods dictated
by variant circumstances.
Having been disabled in active ser
vice in the Philippines, Captain Aherr
was four years ago detached to super
intend forestry work there. This tc
him was labor OF love to undertake
for he is not only an expert but ar
enthusiastic forester. Captain Aherr
started the first school of forestry In
the United States in connection with
his military duties at the town OF
Bozeman, Montana.
Captain Ahern put up at the Alex
ander Young hotel, where last night he
granted an interview to an Advertiser
reporter.
We have had an organized forestry
service in the Philippines for four
years" Captain Ahern said, land we
obtained a half million dollars gold in
revenue the past two years from the
forests.
I'VE are now provided with a COM
plete legislation on forestry, as up-to-
date and modern as any you will find
anywhere in the world so far as forest
protection is concerned. Having had
it demonstrated to them that forestry
is business proposition, the Commits
sioners have been generous with APP
preparations for the service. They
have granted us $4,000 gold for the
present year.
I'VE issue licenses for a year to
lumbermen to work in certain defined
limits, and they pay us so much for
each cubic foot of lumber classified ac-
cording to its value
There are sixty stations over the
islands manned by American foresters
and inspectors and Filipino rangers, so
that there is a check on every stick
of lumber cut in the islands, We can
give licenses for terms up to twenty
years. One was issued recently to a
company giving it an exclusive priv
ty square miles. The timber is select
ed on the tract and only such is cut
as we select. There is therefore no
fear of denudation. The virgin forest
is constantly coming up. Forests ex-
list there which must be cut out.
I'VE have forest reservation also
which is set aside for special protec-
ton, to conserve either the water flow
of certain streams or the forest itself.
The only difference between the res
erVations and other public forests is
that the reservations cannot be enter
ed upon as homesteads or. sold.
There are between 500 and 700 kinds
of timber taken out. there being fully
1900 kinds of wood in the islands.
Sometimes forty different species are
found on one acre of ground. On one
tract of 100 square miles you will find
fully 400 different species.
we have a large workshop in Ma
Mia superintendent by three expert
cabinet makers from Rochester, n. Y,
assisted by thirty or forty Filipinos.
In this shop we endeavor to show the
values and beauties of different woods.
of the kinds that are found
IN greatest abundance. Often the nat
i've lumbermen will say a wood is of
no account, when upon investigation
We find that it serves some useful
purpose.
Visitors passing through Manila who
look into our shops are amazed at the
beauty of so many of our woods.
"Cur exhibit at the st. Louis fair has
excited great deal of interest. We
have there a building $50 feet long
which is devoted exclusively to the |
Philippine forestry exhibit.
I'VE find difficulty in getting expert |
foresters to serve in the |
Philippines, and the Hawaiian Islands |
may consider themselves fortunate in |
securing the services of a man like Mr.
Hosmer TO work in this limited field. |
He stands very high in the United |
States service and | would give good |
deal to have a man of his ability as
with me in the Philippines
II am afraid Hawaiians do not ap-
oreciate the full value of forest re-
serves, especially as means of eonserv-
ng the water supply. Timber Is of sec
'ndary Importance. You may send off
md get your timber, but in time of
Try seasons when water is worth so
much to your farms you cannot send !
IF and get IL. This is so fully appre-
lated by farmers in the western part
II the United States, where the value
II little forest cover Is realized The
Kicker the forest the more the rain
all is soaked away for use in the dry
eason. Many years of careful expert
nents throughout Europe have shown
hat forest VIII take care of five
iNths of the rainfall and allow but
'ne-slNth of II 10 run off. II that same
fround Is cleaned of its forest or OF
ts underground II large part OF that
run Off Immediately and
who're the ground Is dry ana bare i've
iNths VIII run away,
when a person considers what an
immense amount Of water VIII fall ON
valley o. say 1000 square miles he
III appreciate what II lost when he
res this water run on Ia June which
light be- kept untll September II there
.as a forest cover IN the upper yal-
~
ono great destructive agency IN FIRE
nd when nrr runs through forest
nj clfars uui tho underbrush ANA
HYra the trees standing, the natural
production io supply the future forest
delayed n great many years. And
here lhH standing timber l. removed