The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-12
THE LAND POLICY
Of THE GOVERNMENT
Governor Carter Would Give Out Homesteads
as Fast as Conditions Ensure Sue
cessfuI Development.

Governor Carter, replying to a query
about the land settlement policy of the
Government, spoke MS views to an Ad-
vertiser reporter substantially as fol-
lows:
'.All inquiries from the mainland about
land are promptly answered by Com
missioner Pratt.
Nothing of this kind is being done,
however" the Governor said as he held
up a printed sheet to which was APP
pended the name of E S. Boyd. Com
missioner OF Public Lands A glance at
the paper without reading its contents
revealed the subject as the Honohina
Coffee Co.
This thing cost Chicago investors
some $4,000 the Governor remarked
I'VE are not going into land BOOM
ing business" he proceeded to say in
answer to the opening question.
Il don't believe in giving out lands
when comrnon-sense observation is con-
vincing that man cannot make liv-
ing upon the land he wants from the
Government
1T is not for any immediate revenue
that comes from the sale of lands. that
| believe in demonstrating, but for the
subsequent advantages to the Territory
from having the lands developed by
settlers who can make a success of
farming. If we have an acre of land
which is unproductive and turn it over
to some citizen who can do something
with it, the whole Territory is bene-
fitted. To dispose thus of public lands
to bona fde producers is the policy of
the administration, OF which l believe
the people of this Territory will approve.
Most of those lands on Hawaii that
we are asked to open up are unfavor-
ably situated for settlement. Home
steads that were previously allotted at
ford, with a few exceptions, little or no
evidence of improvement. Almost every
person who is claiming homestead title
says that he has substantially complied
with his conditions, having done the
same things as A, B and c, who had got
their titles.
Again, people claim that the Govern
ment promised them roads into the
homestead reservations. If one-half of
those roads were built, we would be
bankrupt. The Territory is not justified
in expanding $4,000 on a road for one
or two men, owning say homesteads of
forty acres each. But do think it would
be wise to construct those $4,000 roads
whenever conditions can be shown or
brought about 10 make the expenditure
inure to the benefit of the whole Ter
ritory.
Some of the homesteads are doing
splendidly. Those near the railroad or
wherever there is means of transporta-
ton have proved successful in the hands
OF practical FARMERS.
Looking at the map we have lots
of land, but actually we have very little
capable of cultivation A large proper
ton is barren and waste land. Upon the
good land you can produce all kinds of
things, yet, regarding many parts, be
unable to dispose of the products for
lack of facilities to reach a market.
The thing to do is to put out that
land as fast as means of transportation
can be provided. | do not believe in
giving away our public lands just now.
We want some land when circumstances
improve to give to men who, by its IN
telligent development, will build up the
Territory.
FWhile financial matters are bother
ing us, we are still at work There is
a line of homesteads just above the
whose occupiers l think are
making good
I'VE want a modification of our law
so as to allow those people to pay for
their lands in working on the roads
through them. In that way the Gov
would receive a proper consid-
ration for public lands in roads that
opened up the country.
The spirit | discovered in many cases
was that OF waiting for the Government
to do something
What l liked to see was the spirit
Of the Russian settlers in Olaa-there
are about forty-three of thin. Having
the estimate of the road engineer as to
what their settlement road would cost, |
and it was large figure, l asked them !
# they were willing to give their labor
TO the building of the road at, say, a
dollar a day. They answered that they
would work on the road for anything
he Government gave them, if it was but |
fifty cents day, so the road should be |
quilt
Then they were asked if the Gov
in order to obtain the best
possible route, should require any of !
heir lands for road purposes, would !
hey give UP such portions as were need
d without claiming compensation. They
among themselvs and gave the
answer for all of them-'Yes' A similar
question was answered by them in the
anne way, as to rock or other material
ipon their lands which might be re-
luired
Other people are raking up old scores
N which to base claims against the
Government. For everything in the
hape of material taken from their lands
or road purposes. such persons claim
ull value received if not more. This
5 not the spirit that promotes the de-
-elopment of the country.
The policy of the Government" thr
Governor said in conclusion, is to open
wherever they can be placed