The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-12-16
Continued from Page IL


year and payable before twenty years,
providing that per cent of the issue
shall be redeemed each year. 1t was
doubtless with statehood in view that
Congress adopted the general rule for
Indebtedness should be limited to short
periods, thus providing for compare
lively rapid liquidation upon any such
change in the form of government.
So far, however, as Hawaii is con-
cerned, it must be admitted the Gov
ernor states, that statehood is in the
dim future, and it would seem wise, and
would be greatly in the Territory's in
terest, for Congress to modify the or
Sanic act so as to permit the making of
it's bonds payable in not more than
thirty years from the date of the issue
thereof. In connection with the bond
ed Indebtedness of the Territory the
question is constantly arising as to
whether other States or municipalities
can tax a Territory's bonds. An emf
nent attorney of New York City is Of
the opinion that the bonds are not
SO taxable. 1t would be OF very great
assistance to the Territory and desira-
BILE if Congress, in an amendment,
would clearly define the position Of its
securities in relation to this question.
The public lands of the Territory of
Hawaii comprise about 100000 acres
OF this total there are some 500, 900
acres which may be classed as barren.
Under the classification of grazing and
forest land are included only about
22O, 600 acres of so-called frst-class
agricultural land. OF this amount there
are 5000 acres which are classed as
Iy1rl ria dc ny
lands. Receipts from the department
of public lands for the year ended June
30, 1905, were $16S 1874. 73 as against
$143.373.46 for the previous year.
In the administration of the public
land laws an effort has been made to
dispose of unfinished business and to
institute an up-to-date system in hand
ling all land matters. The cases of
those settlers who appeared to have
forfeited their holdings through nom
compliance with conditions of agree
ments have been taken UP and exam
ined, and all agreements Cancelled in
the cases of those who have wilfully
violated the law, and the land which
has thus reverted to the control of the
Territory has been again opened for
settlement; on the other hand, the
time being in the cases of those who
have failed to comply. but have shown
that this failure was brought about by
conditions beyond their control.
A new feature of the work is the
cutting up of sugar lands that have
been planted for years under leases
by various corporations, some of which
are now expiring. The opening of these
lands must necessarily be proceeded
with in a cautious manner They have
a market value of from $40 to $3.50 per
acre, and there is, therefore, a great
demand for them. The applicants,
in a large majority of cases, have no
means with which to keep the land un-
der cultivation: this is no inconsider-
able item, for sugar culture as con-
Quoted in this Territory requires from
$3.50 to 5000 outlay per acre before the
crop can be matured.
There has been considerable COM
plant at the attitude taken by Terri
torial officials in reducing the area
open for settlement to small tracts of
from % to so acres, according to the
quality of the land, but it should be
borne in mind that the average cane
land requires the constant attention
of one man for every acres. and
often the applicant, who considers he
has been mistreated unless he is al
lotted from 10 to 100 or more acres. is
absolutely ignorant regarding cane Gull
ture, or he proposes to depend on ORR
entail labor to cultivate it. Sometimes
he does not propose to cultivate it at
all-simply to get possession, to sell
out at the best price possible. These