The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-07
(Copyrighted. 1904, by Frank G. Car
et penter.)

copyrighted. 1904, by Frank G. Car
~ penter)
Washington. D. C.
'Uncle Sam can well afford to do
something for the Sandwich Islands. y
These were the words of Mr.. George
Robert Carter. the young governor of
Hawaii, who is now in this country.
where he came to attend the National
Republican Convention and the St.
Louis exposition.
"Yes," continued the Governor, Il
say that Uncle Sam cannot afford not
to do more for us than he is now doing.
We are one of the best pieces of diyl-
dend- paying property that the old gen
tleman has. We are paying more in-
to the national treasury in proportion
to our numbers than any other part OF
the United States. We are netting the
government almost 81 per head every
year, and there are no deficits. our
government taxes now amount to ". %
per capita, and the government spends
upon us only 81 so. so that there IS a
gain to the national treasury OF $e.9l
for every man, woman and child IN the
Hawaiian Islands evsry year. Here in
the United States proper the annual
cost of government is $7.9I per capita
a wonderful showing in favor of Ha-
wall"
Want Better Harbcrs.
But what are the Sandwich Islands
crying about. Mr.. Carter? Do they
not get all they need in the way OF
government funds?'
I'VE need new harbors and other pub
lie improvements. The United States
is now spending something like $685.
100000 on its harbors. and 1t is al
legged that millions of that money go
into dry rivers and creeks in the back
counties. However that may be. none
of It comes to Hawaii, one OF the
places where 1t Is most needed. We
ought to have better shipping facilities
at Honolulu. We have overtaxed our
selves to supply them. and from now
on the money should come from the
national government. We have deep
ened the harbor from year to year. en-
deavoring to keep up with the great
steamers which wish to enter 1t. 1t
NOW needs additional dredging to
depth of about thirty-five feet, for the
great ships which have been recently
bufit for the trans-Pacific trade draw
thfsty-two feet of water. They would
come to our islands but they have to
anchor outside. We need also break
water at the port of Hilo. on the Island
of Hawaii. and there are other places
that should be improved"
II doubt II the people here appreci-
ate the commercial Importance of the
Hawaiian Islands," continued Governor
Carter 1--WE already stand eleventh
among our ports as to the tonnage of
our, American shipping. and we are in
creasing every year, We are at the
cross roads Of the Pacific: at the great
station between Australia and New
Zealand. and this continent, and be-
tween the United States and Asia.
When the Panama canal is completed
our islands will be more important
than ever. and we must have good har-
bors to accommodate the trade"
''Just how far are you from Pam
anna. Governor Carter?" I asked.
I'VE are 1910 miles from the wes-
tern end of. the big canal and little
more than half way on the route be-
tween that canal and Yokohama. Ia
PAD. 'ws"afe $500 miles from Aucls-
land, New Zealand. 5000 miles from
Hong Kong and little more than g.
600 miles from San Francisco. We IRE
the key to the Pacific Ocean and ships
from all parts of it now call at our
ports.
THE steamers of the Pacific are
steadily growing in number and size.
The new boats of Jim Hills line are
AMONG the. Largest of tho worldJJnna
thS Korea and Siberia of the Pacific
Mail Company. which now call at Hon
olulu on their way from san Francisco
have each 10000 tons. and are as fine
as any passenger steamers on the At
lantic That company VIII soon add
two other steamers equally large. The
Korea and Siberia have a speed of
twenty-five knots and the Korea has
gone from Honolulu to San Francisco
In less than five days. Those ships
bring the Sandwich Islands almost as
rlose to the United States in point of
time as Porto Rico"
y Hawaii in 1904
'sWhat is the condition of the islands
today. GOVERNOR" I asked. Are your
people prospecting in a business way?"
I'VE have not been doing we'll in the
last year or So" was the reply. Our
chief industry is sugar. We have