The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-10-05


Paris. Colonel Norris, Mrs. Richardson
DR.. Hutchinson, and the Wilcox's, to
gether with government land, could b'
numbered without danger of injury tc
the forests or the water supply in tha
district. As Mr.. Hosmer is the onl,
authority on forestry in this Territory
we desire if possible to obtain his ser
vices in this matter.
We understand that he has worl
ahead which will occupy his time fol
about six weeks. We desire if posi-
BILE that he be authorized by your
Board to undertake the above work for
us at the end of that period, or as soon
thereafter as possible.
Thanking you in advance for an
early reply, we remain,
Very truly yours,
HAWAIIAN MAHOGANY LUMBER
CO.. LID.
ROBERT w. SHTNGLE,
Secretary.
The object of the company in making
the above request is that they may use
the report as an aid in securing op
tions on the koa on the lands in ques
ton against the time when it is founG
possible to undertake systematic lum
bering.
To furnish Adequately the information
requested entails careful examination
of each of the tracts enumerated, a
matter necessitating field work ex-
tending. over number of weeks. In
discussing with the Committee on For
estry few days since. the advisabiity
L.,
peared that in view of the present stat
us of the koa industry in the Territory,
Il general statement might for the pes
ent be sufficient, leaving until nearer
the time of actual work the detailed
examination of each of the several
tracts. ] have accordingly prepared
this report, which / submit with the
recommendation that a copy be trans
mitted to the Hawaiian Mahogany
Lumber Company, Limited.
The general policy of the Board, as
well as my own attitude in the matter,
is in favor of numbering the mature
trees of merchantable value in the Ha-
waiian forests, where ever such work
can be done without detriment to the
continued well being of the forest as
n whole. In certain districts where
the primary value of the forest is from
its serving as protection cover on
important watersheds it will probably
be found advisable to maintain the for
est intact.
But in districts where, except in re-
stricted localities, the question of
stream protection is minor consider
alton, as is the ease in the greater
part of Kona and much of Kau, there
is in my Judgment no good reason why
the forest, while being permanently
maintained, should not be so mana ged
as to serve as continued source of
timber and other forest products. This
indeed is the essential object of for
estry-the perpetuation of the forest
through wise use.
From my acquaintance with Kona
and Kau ] believe that because of its
general relation to the various indus
tries of those districts and to some ex-
tent on account of the influence which
the forest may exert or the local eli
mate it is to the advantage of the Ter
ritory that most of the area in these
districts now covered by the Koa belt
be kept permanently in forest. For
this reason | recommend that when
numbering is undertaken, either on gov.
ernment or private lards, the work be
done in accordance with the methods
of practical forestry.
BY the adoption and carrying out of
few simple rules the frture welfare
of the forest will be assured and these
can be put into effect without working
any appreciable hardship on the con
tractor. The regulations which it may
be advisable to adopt NAV differ slight
ly for various tracts and can only be
stated after a detailed examination of
the given area has been made on the
ground. As has been stated above such
examinations can be made later when
the time for actual work is nearer at
hand
In general the regulations to be rec.
ommended will follow the outline given
below. Unless such regulations are
made part of the contract | cannot
recommend that numbering be under
taken in Kona or Kau.
The main points to be observed in
drawing up numbering contract art:
QD The protection of the forest from,
fire during and Immediately after the
logging operations. The Importance OF
this matter is so self-evident that il
hardly needs to be emphasized. Tn,
contractor should be required to eXer
else all reasonable care in the use OF
fire and should forest fire start OF
the tract from any cause during tn,
term of his contract he should he oh
liged to turn ont his men to fight it.
(2) The protection of the area from
cattle after numbering to secure repro
duction. The central idea of fores
management being the perpetuation o.
the forest it is essential that steps b,
taken To secure the replacement of tn,
trees removed by logging. In mos
eases new stand of koa can be Sc
cured through natural reproduction
The opening up of the forest that form
II necessary part of the logging of tn
mature trees insures in most cases ex
cellent conditions for koa reproduc
tion. But as cattle are particular,
! fond of the Young koa il is cssentia
that they be excluded from the trac
after numbering, at any rate until tn
exercise of reasonable care should b
required in the logging that small tree
be not necessarily damaged and tina
other avoidable injury to the forest b
prevented. The question of the remoy
al of the tops depends largely upo
how much of the tree can be got ou
and sold. Where large top must b
| left in the woods il is advisable. Il