The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-01-10
COL. MI CFARlANE TELLS
OF HAWA|I's PROSPECTS

Chronicle-The present seasons su-
gar crop of the Hawaiian Islands will
amount to 100000 tons, worth about
$40, COZ. 000 and it will register the
greatest production ever known in the
islands, and probably be the standard
sized crop for years to come. Such is
the declaration OF Colonel Macfarlane,
who has just returned from a general
survey of the plantations.
The reason for this enormous crop
is the final bringing under compre-
hensive irrigating system all the great
areas which are adapted TO the growth
of sugar cane. AS all the mountain
water sources and all the sugar lands
have been included in the develop
ment, no further considerable increase
in Hawairs sugar production can be
expected, but the perfection OF the ir-
rigating canals and the bringing OF
water to the crop when it is most
needed insure a reasonable reliability
of this high-standard yield.
When seen at the Fairmont yester-
day Colonel Macfarlane declared that
the big yield of the plantations this
season, fully 20 per cent. greater than
last year, will probably mean con-
siderable dividends declared by many
of the sugar companies in which Cali:
fOrnians are financially interested. The
Hawaiian Commercial, the largest Of
the plantations, is expected to yield
about s4,000.00o worth in the coming
crop; the Eva, about s2,s00,0Oo; the
oahu, about 100000; the Makaweli,
about $500, 600; the Onomea, about
S1,100,o50 worth, making an aggregate
of some 81, 7O0. 900 worth from the five
largest plantations, with nearly three
times as much more in the aggregate
from all the smaller plantations. All
these estimates were based on only
average prices fcr sugar
Il have just completed visit to
most of the plantations of the group
with a member and director of one OF
the great engineering firms OF Eng
land" said Colonel Macfarlane. He
went there TO report on two Of the
large irrigation schemes in the Kohala
and Hamakua districts of the Island
OF Hawaii. These canal systems viii
supply mountain water 10 a dozen Or
more plantations. which have suffered
in occasional years from drought.
THE steady water supply Will in
crease the yield Of these plantations
fully 80 per cent. as it did in the case
OF Hawaiian Commercial Three OF
the plantations that are pretty we'll
known here and are to be thus bene-
flied are the Paauhau. the Pacific SUI
gar Mil. and the Honokaa.
las an example OF what this GER
tain method Of irrigation is worth, 1
might cite the case Of a large field on
the Hind plantation. For years its
average yield has been three and a
half tons to the acre. Now. with water
on the new crop, IT is estimated that
this season the yield win be nine to
ten tons to the acre. The ground has
been steam plowed very deep. but not
fortified. except by the natural sill
Gates in the abundant flow OF noun
tain water.
The Kohala ditch Is Of IS. 900. 900
gallons daily flow and is twenty-five
miIes long. seventeen miles Of the dis
lance being through solid mountain
tunnel II cost $4,000. and was de-
man, N OShaughnessy. formerly as
sistant engineer Of the Spring Valley
Water Company. The Hamak9a ditch,
Of upper and lower
branches. can carry about s0.0o0000
gallons Of water, and It is thirty miles
long.
Japanese are coming into the IS
lands IN large numbers lately. antici- |
patfng the day when. with emigration
restricted to America, they will be
ready TO come into the States from
that way station The result IL that
for the present Hawaii has all the la
Dor she wants. and more The fnan-
rfaI furry did not seriously affect the
islands. the Honolulu banks having
abundant gold for the great payrolIs |
Of the plantations. and no certificates
were necessary"