The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-01-07

lHe prices OF winch would aggregate
$4,000 A small portion Of the upper
corner has been sold on the basis of
these figures.
From the wording of the appropria-
ton, it is evident that the Legislature
ibid not intend to allow for purchase
by the Government of any property on
which to erect suitable buildings.
with this in view a suggestion has
been made that It would be in the in
terests Of the Territory to surrender
the ranch lands of Kapapala, on Ha-
wall, for the Boardman property.
"The lands of Kapala are at pres
ent leased to the Hawaiian Agricul-
tural Co. for agricultural purposes at
an annual rental of $1,000, said lease
expiring in 1907 These lands COM
prise an area of some $4,000 acres,
the eastern boundary of which runs
in a northerly direction from the sea
up through the Kau desert to the vol
cano of Kilauea; thence in a north
westerly direction for some seven miles
thence in a southwes terly direction to
the summit of Mauna Loa, from which
the boundary runs in southeasterly
direction towards the sea down through
the forest belt
"A large portion of this area is
practically useless. Towards the
summit there is an area. that is above
the line Of vegetation, rising as 1t
does to an elevation of $4,000 feet.
The upper forest limit is between 5000
and 1000 feet. Below the forest belt
is an area of desert, and much of the
] al In in &c
lava flows. Within the whole area
there is no spring or water source Of
any kind.
AT present the Kapapala ranch
herd consists of some 5000 head of
cattle, a considerable portion of which
is run on lands other than the fore
going. For the cattle that do Craze
on this land, the ranch company has
| brought water a distance of some
thirteen miles from adjoining land
owned by the Territory, but already
leased for a term of twenty-one years.
1t is estimated that without this wa
ter, not more than two thousand head
Of cattle could be maintained-th
heavy dews that fall on the middle
lands being sufficient to maintain cat
tie.
"A considerable area probably an
eighth of the whole is covered with
forests, and in order to protect and
preserve this, the company has at con-
siderable expense, fenced it off.
"A portion of this land of Kapapala
on the west side, below the forest, is
probably suitable for the cultivation
of sugar cane, although the elevation
is exceedingly high. Cane is growing
on adjoining land, but it has been
found that it takes thirty months to
mature a crop The area of this cane
land is in the neighborhood of 900
acres.
THE owners of the ranch are willing
to purchase the Boardman property
outright and deed the same to the Gov
eminent in exchange for the lands at
Kapapala, in fee simple, exclusive of
the entire area within the forest fences
and, whatever area may be found to be
suitable for the cultivation of cane.
They further agree to pay 80 an acre
for a lease of the cane land. They
will also agree to maintain perpetually
the present forest fences, not only in
Guiding that portion which surrounds
the lands of Kapapala but with a fence
around the forests on the adjoining
lands, enclosing some $4,000 acres of
forest land, provided, the Territory will
covenant that the area of forest within
the area of Kapapala shall be main
tanned as a perpetual forest reserve.
Although the total area is large,
there is thus left but a small portion
that can actually be used by those who
control the ranch.
1T is evident from the description
that none of this land is available for
.homesteads or small farmers.
THE proposed exchange will not de-
prive the Government of any revenue,
because of the proposal to leave the
available cane land, which viii prob
ably be over 900 acres.
THE attached statement is an esti-
mate of the probable returns from the
lands of Kapapala, not operated in
conjunction with the adjoining lands or
water"
The statement shows the valuations
as follows:
Estimate of Kapapala Ranch from
"a statement made by the ranch COM
panS:
1t is presupposed that at the expira-
ton of the present lease in 1907 the
ranch as it exists today has been
stripped; that the cattle, horses and
other live stock have been marketed;
that fences and buildings have fallen
into disrepair; that the pipe line has
been moved and used to carry the
water toward Pahala; that the Gov
eminent sets apart the 10000 acres
now fenced off, for a permanent for
est reservation; and that the 900 acres
of cane land are eliminated.
With no spring or running water on
the land, it is held that its average
capacity would not be more than 1000
head of cattle, though a larger herd
could be carried. Omitting the cost of
ranch buildings and work animals, it
is held that the following expense
would be justified in taking the prop
erty for ranch purposes: