The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-11-12

1ect viii demonstrate that the condi-
tons confronting the home-maker are
responsible for every case of failure.
and that the land laws are an unim-
portant factor. About some of these
conditions shall ask your attention.
The subject which believe to be of
first importance in the matter now in
hand is that Of transportation. While
there exists no adequate means of
transportation for the products grown
on lands now held by the government
those lands will continue idle or even
tually be absorbed by corporations and
large individual owners who can han
die transportation questions i'm a man.
ner far beyond the capacity of the
holders of small tracts. The land now
available for settlers is situated at a
considerable distance from the govern
ment roads and still farther from wa
ter-ways. No considerable number
Of railroads have yet been built in
this Territory. The cost of transpor-
tation Of supplies to the new land and
of the products from such lands TO
market is prohibitive. That prohibi-
ton will continue until the government
shall have taken steps to relieve it.
For the purpose of illustration let me
call your attention to a question of
cost which will confront a settler up-
on his taking up land on the Island
OF Hawaii.
If the homesteader selects a desir-
able piece of land at Ahualoa, lying
about five miles above the government
road at Honokaa, District of Hamakua.
Island of Hawaii, he must erect a
snail house for himself and family
from lumber purchased in Hilo or Ho-
nolulu. Hilo is sixty mics distant
by land and Honolulu twice that dis
lance by water The cost of rough
pine lumber ranges from $50 to $35
per thousand in the lumber yard. The
Hilo price is slightly under that of
Honolulu. The cost of transporting
lumber from Honolulu is as follows:
Freight by boat from Honolulu to
Honokaa landing, per thousand, $500.
Landing charge paid to owner of
private landing, per thousand, SO so.
Hauling to government road, per-
thousand, $500.
Hauling from government road to
homestead, per thousand, $500.
Total cost of transportation 800. SO.
The cost of transporting the same lum-
Der from Hilo, overland, amounts to
about double the total given above.
The cost of lumber delivered upon the
homestead is over fifty dollars per
thousand.
Rates on all feed stuffs and other
supplies, as well as the products grown
upon the land, are CORRESPONDENCE
large.
In the particular locality referred to
there is railroad already projected
with franchise, surveys, and everything
complete and ready for construction.
When built, such railroad will COM
pletely solve the transportation pro-
blem for the districts which it ira
verses, giving to the adjoining lana
owners cheap and rapid connection
with the principal harbor town of this
island. These roads must be financed
on the mainland where a reasonable
guarantee of the payment of bonds is
required. To meet this situation l re-
commend:
First. That steps be at once taken
to obtain from tn federal govern
ment guarantee OF the payment of
per cent bonds of such railroads.
Second. Failing to obtain the qua
rantee by the Federal government the
territorial legislature should be re-
quested to give a similar guarantee
of the Territory under an enabling act
passed by Congress.
The policy which recommend is in
accordance with that established by
the United States in giving govern
ment aid to all of the pioneer rail-
roads and is identical with the enact
ment of Congress giving aid to rail
roads in the Philippine Islands. (33
Stat. l.. 690)
The next problem is that of home
stead roads. So long as the settler is
compelled to cut private trails through
a tropical jungle and transport his
supplies and products with pack ami
mails, just so long will the settlement
of public lands he retarded. To meet
this, propose that appropriate legis
latiOn be urged whereby a certain
proportion of the territorial revenue
received from the sale of public lands
be set aside as a special fund for the
building and maintenance of home
stead roads Homesteads should not
be offered for settlement until roads
to them have been provided.
1t is the experience of every country
producing fruits and farm products
that the producer falls an easy prey to
INSCRIPTIONS commission agents The
banana growers in the first land dis