The Hawaiian star., 1906-04-13
AFTER
WATER RIGHTS
MOLOKANS A FAILURE AND HE
WOULD HAVE LAND OFFERED
TO OTHERS.

Acting Governor Atkinson received
from Col Spalding a long Litter on
the subject of the Molokans stating
that they have proved a failure and
suggesting a plan whereby Spalding
would supply water to Kauai settlers if
given a long lease on certain water
rights. The letter says that the Mo-
lokans have proved the most unreliable
and inefficient laborers Spalding has
ever had anything to do with and
quotes Castle to the effect that Every
recommendation and promise made by
Captain Demens concerning them has
been disproved,"
Spalding suggests water develop
ment scheme which will cost him from
$4,000 to $4,000 and offers to carry it
out for the following purposes
"If the government will grant me a
lease of the Kapaa and Anahola riv-
ers' waters at nominal rental for a
sufficient term (say q years. with
privilege of taking the waters out at
point or points above the present points
and not below, and the right to con-
struct reservoirs wherever necessary
and not conflicting with or injuring
rights of others, 1 will agree to furnish
to the extent of the whole of the Kapaa
rived sufficient water to properly irri-
gate 600 acres of cane land to be plant
ed, or planted and ratooned annually,
together with such like acreage for
growing crop Cor 1900 acres in all when
both crops are growing) as well as
water for domestic purposes and gar
den crops; and upon Anahola and Ka-
mamaloo, in like manner, for 400 acres
per annum or 800 acres when two crops
are in the ground and growing, as well
as domestic purposes and garden crops.
81 will, furthermore, agree to con-
tract with parties to whom the gov
ernment may lease or sell the said
lands, or any of them, on practically
the same terms as the contract with
the Molokans, and will guarantee to
the government an agreed rental for
any part of said lands that may be
in my charge or under my control at
any time or times during said term by
| reason of non-rental or occupancy by
others"
In the course of Z. lengthy reply Act
ing Governor Atkinson yesterday stat
ed that there was an agreement in
existence at present whereby the Molo-
kans are promised an opportunity to
take up t lands in question, at the
expiration of the lease i'm May, 1907. The
! executive adds:
"Stiu I see no reason why if it is
to be taken for granted that the Molo-
kans will default under their agree
j oil n
Government from it's position, then,
and subject to that release, let me
assure you that I see no harm in con-
sidering what should be done for the
future. For I sincerely appreciate what
you say, that a plantation can not
stand still; it must either go ahead
or go ehind
'I would therefore like to know
definitely what the Molokans intend to
do about the right given by Mr.. ]. w.
Pratt, Commissioner of Public Lands,
for and on behalf of the Hawaiian
| Government to have the 5000 acres of
the Kapaa land ready for the occu-
pancy of the Molokan Settlement Asso-
citation on or about the first day of
May, 1907.
CT first talked with Mr.. Fairchild,
and telephoned to Mr. Pratt who came
over to the office and Joined us. Mr..
Pratt seemed to feel that it would not
be fair proposition to use the water
you spoke of, for a limited number of
acres. However, as I said, am not in
a position to act concerning this mat
ter at the present time for the reasons
above given"
Land Commissioner Pratt is opposed
to the scheme He says it will give
Col. Spalding control of the water sup
ply for all the lands concerned, and
that this will mean control of all who
settle on them. Pratt wants a release
of the lands from Spalding without
any strings" and says the government
will open such lands to settlers if such
a release is given.