The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-02-26

With regard TO location, was there any
suggestion of the people anywhere as
to where homesteads could be success
fully established without encroaching
on forest reservations in any way?
Mr., Hosmer replied that the Gov
ernor looked into number of tracts
which had been opend ID for settlement
and some proposed locations. Many
petitions from natives and others to
open homesteads were received. 1t
was a usual cry everywhere on that
island those making 1t not caring
whether there We're any roads or not.
But no sooner would tract be opened
than there was cry for roads. In
several instances the homesteaders
were making IA good f~ht and doing
the best they could, but the roadless
condition would make their struggle
hopeless. Answering question by
Mr.. Brown, the speaker said the suit
able land to which he had referred was
mostly controlled by cattlemen or sug-
ar planters. 1t was chiefly on the
edge OF the forest.
Mr.. Brown said that when the home
steads We're opened there was great
demand for coffee lands. Nobody
would take such outside of the forest
belts as it was then believed thai
shade was necessary. People wanting
homesteads then said to him-he hav-
ing been the surveyor of the tracts
that they would take their chances on
roads. SO far as he knew now there
We're none of those homestead tracts
on which anything was done, except
that on which his friend Mr.. Dole and
associates We're settled at Wahiawa.
He was therefore curious to know
something about the reported demands
for homesteads which We're made upon
the Governor.
Mr.. Hosmer said his personal belief
was that there was a belt suitable for
homesteads between the plantations
and the forests, particularly in Ko-
hala, but the great difficulty was the
want of roads. The land was good
and so were other conditions, but the
people could not get any transporta-
ton. The whole question was that of
getting to market, including in its
scope inter-island steamers as well as
roads.
Mr.. Brown spoke of lands at 1900 to
1000 feet elevation where people want
ed homesteads. To reach such places
required most expensive roads. He
called attention to this difficulty over
and over again, but it did not seem to
hold anybody back.
Mr.. Giffard said he never saw re-
port of anything done on any home
steads except Wahiawa.
Mr.. Brown stated that the original
demand for hOmesteads was based en-
trely on the expectation of what could
be done with coffee. That was all
abandoned.
Mr.. Giffard told of the homestead
conditions on Hawaii as observed by
himself. Homesteaders cut down
trees to carry out the condition of
fencing, selling the surplus of wood for
what it might bring. The homestead
er would fulfil the building conditions
by erecting a shack with a Kerosene
tin roof and then leave a Chinaman in
charge of the place. AS soon as they
got fee simple title they would sell out
to the sugar planters.
THE FORESTER'S PLANS.
Mr.. Hosmer spoke of the question
of the nursery referred to him at a
previous meeting. He wished to talk
matters over with Mr.. Austin, the nur-
sery gardener, before making report.
Mr.. Carter asked him what plan he
thought would be best for him to pur-
sue in the organization of his division.
Mr.. Hosmer in reply presumed he
should have to spend a good deal of
time in the field, but felt that at the
ctn rt ha oh ct n, tnu N.I1iIa
studying the nursery and considering
the matter of the Nuuanu forest sta
ton. ! At the latter place he desired
to go over the ground with Mr.
Haughs For two or three weeks he
should have enough to do at the office
buildings in getting affairs there into
shape. After that he should go to
Maui to look over the ground the same
as he had done on Hawaii. Apparent
ly forest conditions were most pressing
on Hawaii and Maui. He inquired
about the library at headquarters.
There We're a great many agricultural
bulletins from the Federal department,
q large proportion of which We're of
little or no use to the forestry and nur-
sery division. Should he give such
documents shelf room?
Mr.. Giffard gave a statement of
President Thurstons suggestion on
that matter. 1t was that the heads
of the different divisions should each
look after the literature of his own
subject in arranging the library.
TRANSPORTATION.
Mr.. Carter regretted that he had fail
ed to report a regulation on transport
tation as asked of the committee on
regulations.
Mr.. Gffard stated that he had spo-
ken to President Wight of Wilder's
Steamship Co, who said his company,
and he believed the Inter-Island Co.,
would cooperate with the Board in
carrying out any regulation to prevent
the transportation of infected plants
or seed cane from one island 10 an
other.
NnIIDT