The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-03-12
COATS RIOT
On LANAI
Forest Destruction Due
to Them---Pests Had
Been Protected.

H. E. Cooper was the first witnes.
called before the Lanai Investigation
committee last night. He informed the
committee that there had been ne
thought of trying to direct the actor
of the government in the Lanai deal
He had had written surrenders of the
Gay leases in his possession prior tC
the deal and had so informed the Land
Commissioner. They had been ready
to throw up these leases in the event
of the government disposing of the
public land other than it did.
Albert Barnes was the commissioner
appointed by the court to sell the La.
mai land under the Pain and Neumann
foreclosure. He had therefore some
knowledge of Lanai, having visited il
last in August. At that time the veg
citation there was green. In the gar
den at Mr.. Gays place there were
thriving vegetable patches and in one
place he had noticed particularly a
small patch of sugar cane, irrigated
only by the water that God gave it,
as explained by a native woman, the
cultivator. He had been told, how
ever, that sugar cane in any quantity
had never been grown on the island.
In the opinion of this witness the
government had got the best OF the
Lanai deal, although with capital a
man could profitably use that land.
Regarding it's best use the witness
would not express an opinion.
Ralph S. Hosmer, superintendent of
Forestry of the Territory, had visited
Lanai recently on request of Land
Commissioner Pratt in connection with
the setting aside of a forest reserve.
He exhibited a map of the island show
ing the reserve. Saw indications that
side of the main ridge had at some
time prior to visit been heavily for
ested. The Kaa land also showed the
same indication, about 100 acres of
open forest still existing there. The
cattle were grazing there among the
stunted trees.
Mr.. Hosmer then described the va
rious forest growths noted by him dur
ing his trip over the island. The idea
of the government in setting aside re-
serves is to preserve the original for
est to conserve the water heads. The
forest growth is poor and is getting
worse, because of the wild goats. He
had heard that at one time the shoot
ing of goats had been prohibited and
the number increased greatly.
To reforest Lanai so as to properly
protect the waterheads would require
in some places but a short time, but on
the bare slopes the growth would be
slow. One of the objects of his trip
had been to look into reforestation and
the first thing necessary would have
been the killing off of the goats. This
would have required a special appro-
priation, for then and now there is no
sum that could be used.
With Mr. Gay he had discussed the
matter. Mr. Gays scheme had been
to have a systematic drive of the pests
into corrals and destroy them when
One or two small drives had
been made but Mr.. Gay had said he
could not personally afford it.
Leaving the goats there will mean
the disappearance of the forest and re-
suit in drying up still more the few
sources of water supply.
The condition of the island of Kahoo-
awe, said to be primarily due to de-
;truction Of forest. could be approached
N Lanai but not SO completely. In
some parts of the island the condition
,xists now.
The protection of the forest on the |
,idge will save the sources of water
uply. upon which depends the develop |
nent of the island. The agricultural |
possibility depends upon the water and /
n the opinion of the witness this sup /
,ly could not be more than enough for |
stock. At the old Gibson
iouse there are some springs, inter-
intent. and springs of the same nature
re said to be found in Maunalei gulch.
Mr.. Hosmer favored the exchange
lade by the government From the
az of the land the island must be con-
rolled by one interest to be made prof
able. either all by government or all
y private concern. If the govern
,ent was in a position to acquire the
hole island and To clean out goats, II
light be well to hold for future de-
eIopmcnt. but as this seems impracti-
able. he thought the deal had been a
Use one. Further. the government
ould profit more in direct returns
.om taxes and indirect returns from
pvcIopment Of the island than it could
ct as things were.
Further MIR Hosmor said. Mr.. Cay
ld q proposition To plant sisal in the
asiu. but he the witness. was not
repaired To pass on the point OF the
lccessful cultivation Of the fiber there.
r understood that tu prepare sisJl for
,,. market rrsutrrS considerable water.
T., had heard If taru patches in Ma
ralci rulrh hut these had been cover
! ny stones rut down from The sides
' the passing soAts.
The committee adjourned to meet
gain nu "Wednesday thc meeting last
.eht being cut or because uf thc fact
,at the grip va~ working overtime
,,ouu tho members