Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-01-16

otherwise be barren stretches val
liable crop. On the flows the ohia
tends to form pure stand, but else
where 1t Is found a mixture with the
other trees characteristic of the low
er forest zone. At about 1000 feet
ell through South Kona is an abrupt
line of demarkation between the ohia
forest below and the koa belt, which
extends on up to about $500 feet.
Higher than this ohia again appears
but at this elevation 1t is scrubby in
type, as is also such scattering koa
as Is found in mixture with Il. This
formation runs up into the great pri-
vately owned land of Kahuku.
numbering Revenue
Owing to the absence of perma-
nently running streams and the scar
city even of springs, the chief value
of the forest in South Kona rests in
its commercial Importance, and be-
cause of the growing demands for
Uhia railroad ties, ohia as well as
hoa becomes factor to be reckoned
with. | am confident that rightly
numbered the forest on the govern
ment land in South Kona can be
made to yield considerable revenue
to the Territory and at the same time
be brought under a system of forest
management that will lead to an i'm
provement in the condition of the
forest and insure future returns as
well. While this statement applies
particularly to the area above an ele-
walton of $500 or 5000 feet | be-
lieve Il would be to the advantage OF
the Government to include in any
plan of forest utilization all the gov
eminent forest in South Kona that
has commercial value. In this way
the stands of ohia on the lava flows
that come down to and across the
government road would be included
Is we'll as the ohia and koa mauka.
1t is recognized that this depart
nent is the appropriate branch OF
the Government to take charge OF Its
forest work. The disposition of the
timber on these lands is essentially n
forest problem. Therefore, in my
Judgment all of the government
lands in South Kona on which there
| IS now a commercial forest should be
set apart-at any rate, for the pres
/ .nt-as q forest reserve. To accom-
1 plish this It will be necessary that
l the boundaries of a number OF the
! lands be run, that certain points be
| located and that some other survey
| ng work be done, such as the loca-
ton of the principal topographic
features. have taken up the matter
in a tentative way with Mr.. Wall
he Government Surveyor, and find
that were an official request made II
would probably be possible for one oil
mis- assistants to start almost at once
to do such work as may be required
In order that no time may be lost
therefore recommend that the Boart
authorize this request.
There is an additional reason VIII,
such a survey as is here proposes
hould be made now. AS has beer
| pointed out there is much good liant
belonging to the Government II
south Kona but at present there i
very little accurate information
AVAILABLE in regard to its characte
land condition. With the develop
nent of the district through tn
| rpening up of better means of trans
portation-of which there now seem
jromise-will come a demand 70
his land. A comprehensive survey
including the location OF the bound
lries and of the main topography
'eatures is imperatively needed be
lore any appraisal or allotment cal
be made. The proposed survey vii
make available these data as well a
hose in regard to the forest.
If the Board approves this recon-
mendation shall, after the survey /
made submit more detailed repor
IN the forest situation in South Ko
Ina. Until more information l
AVAILABLE than at present 1t is i'm
| possible to recommend accuratel
what boundaries should be chosen O
the limits of the projected reserve
Very respectfully,
\ RALPH S. HOSMER,