The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-12-26
land
scInNrrrIc AssrsrANcE.

II must be admitted that among the
many advantages gained by nnnexa-
ton. few are OF more Importance than
the assistance In development OF these
islands that viii be rendered by the
scientific departments OF the Federal
Government. Already our community
has gained much from the Department
OF Agriculture Within the year u
Federal representative of the Bureau
OF Animal Industry has probably as
certaincd why range cattle and sheep
In these islands deteriorate or revert
so rapidly, His work may revolution
ize this whole industry and turn Ha-
wall, with its ideal climate, into
model stock farm, where THE best ex-
amples of different breeds can be pro-
duced for export. And the interest
created and work done In forestry
since annexation are n remarkable rec
ord. But we have right to expect
more. for In all these departments the
amount spent by the Federal Govern
ment In Hawaii has been less than in
any other State or Territory.
For years. water has limited the ex-
tent OF Hawai's productiveness. 1t
was thought that the limit OF produc-
ton In sugar had been reached when
the area where suitable rainfall was
found had all been devoted to its Gull
ture. Then came irrlgating bitches.
carrying the water by gravity to I'M
occupied and waste areas. Capital and
ingenuity furnished pumps which rails
cd water 200 feet at n cost which still
left n margin OF profit. Economies of
various kinds and efficiency in pumps
have raised this limit to 400 feet. with
n corresponding increase in produc-
ton. Now. the trend OF private en-
terprise is toward the storage of storm
waters. but the additional area that
can be occupied under this method of
irrigation is limited
What is of more Importance In in
diligently developing these islands to
their fullest capacity and providing for
the largest population is the scientific
study of the available water, both
above and below the surface. Our
mountain streams should be measured
and careful geological and hydro
graphic survey made. To legislate in
diligently for Hawaii's future, we
must know the margin of waste water
now existing. Is the supply constantly
diminishing? IL so, then 1t must be
conserved. We cannot build for tho
future of these islands better than by
insuring a constant water supply. With
this object in view many thousand
acres of forest reservations have been
established since annexation.
THE FUNDING BILL.
This question of n METEOROLOGICAL
survey, as well as other questions, has
not as yet been brought to the atten-
ton of Congress, for 1t has been the
policy of this administration to refrain
from inundating Congress with large
number of requests, but rather to con-
centrate on that which Is of the great
est Importance. with this In view, Its
efforts are centered on what is called
the Funding Bill" to support which
a delegation OF business men volnn-
tarily gave the time necessary for a
trip to Washington, whereby It was
hoped that Hawaii could secure great
pr financial assistance In maintaining
American institutions out here in the
middle of the Pacific, where they come
in contact with those Of other civiliza-
tons.
The idea did not originate in Hawaii,
but was suggested by leading states
man in Congress, whose position gave
him particular opportunities for
study of the Hawaiian situation. He
I'VE are taking out of Hawaii for the
Federal Treasury q million dollars a
that we do not need and
10 not want, and which should be ap-
)lied In those Islands to the greater
development of our institutions To
accomplish this Is the real problem of
Hawaii"
With this end in view Hawaii's rep
in Congress secured the in
reduction OF bill by which 1t Is pro-
posed to set aside rs per cent. of the
Internal revenues and customs receipts
IS separate fund In the Treasury, to
,e applied, as Congress In it's wisdom
aw fit, toward the military and naval
licenses of tho islands, harbor i'm
rovements. and public and education
i buildings. Such measure, with a
ew minor changes. was readily passed
y the Senate. but, Notwithstanding a
avorable report by the Committee on
1t failed to secure consider
ton In the House.
BUSINESS DELEGATION.
In support of the measure. the dele
alton of business men pointed out
nat the only price America paid for
lie annexation of these islands and the
curing OF such strategic point In
lie middle of the Pacific Ocean was the
asuming OF si.OOOOOo of debt of the
cpublic of Hawaii; that since that
ate the customs and internal reve-
ues, wholly contributed by the people
olated on these islands, had not only
aid back the 4,00o,000, but had con-
'ibuted nearly $2,0O0,00O in excess-an
mount greater than all the appropria-
ons and current expenditures of the
cderal Government within the Ter
tory since annexation; that the
orld's history shows that no country
is successfully maintained Dependent
es from which revenues have been
;tracted to any material degree. Our
LEGATION also pointed out that for
cal tax purposes the total contrlbu-
On per capita, which varied each
'ar, had been In one yeaI little
cr SEE. and that the contribution of
avail to the Federal Treasury had
en- as high as $3.50 per capita in
,gle year.