The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-02-17

during the last year as never before to
the scope and Importance of this sub
ject. There is no need of enlarging
upon it there. 1t has many phases.
Hawei is scant in mineral resources
and inland waterways. Her resources
are mali ly OF the soil and the forest,
the latter chiefly for the conservation
of water for irrigration, power and
| domestic use. Transportation facilities
with other lands and harbor facilities
naturally fall more peculiarly within
the sphere of the Federal Government.
There is within the Territory lack of
railroad facilities, but perhaps the peo-
pie are not prepared to encourage rail-
road building by subsidies or guaran-
ty of interest on bonds. The construc-
ton of needed roads will be consider
ed under the head of public lands. The
principal remaining work in the con-
servation, development and better uti-
lization of the natural resources within
the available means would naturally in
large measure take the following
forms, to which portions of the fund
above mentioned might be devoted.
Settlement of Lands, Public and Pri-
vate.-This should involve much more
than has hitherto been deemed to be
within the scope of the public land
office. 1t should consist not merely
in the surveying and the exchanging,
selling and leasing of public lands ana
other incidental matters. 1t should
include the study of large questions
of immigration, industries, transporta-
ton, marketing, water supply and po-
wer, the best utilization of private as
well as public lands, and the working
out of schemes for execution by the
government or private owners singly
or in cooperation.
photographic and Topographic Sur
veys.-A bill is pending in Congress
for the extension of the reclamation
service to Hawaii. A topographic and
photographic survey is a preliminary
to reclamation work and should be I'M
dertaken at the earliest possible date in
order to advance the time when recla-
nation work may be begun. That
work would mean the conversion OF
perhaps 100000 acres of arid land into
homesteads and is probably the only
feasible method by which homestead
ing can be accomplished upon large
scale. Such surveys are urgently
needed for other purposes also. An
appropriation of at least $4,000 year
should be made for this purpose in any
event and authority should be given
for it's expenditure under the direction
of the appropriate Federal officers, who
will gladly cooperate not only in SER
vice but as far as possible with funds.
Agriculture and Forestry.-Scarcely
any work for the benefit of the small
farmer or the Investigation of indus
tries is of greater Importance than
that within the functions of the board
of agriculture and forestry and the ex-
pertinent station. Under existing
conditions, the acquisition and applica-
ton of scientific knowledge is essential
to success. There is need of additional
money not only for the extension and
protection of forests, but for the pro-
motion and protection of livestock
and agricultural industries both large
and small.
Marketing Facilities.-There is a
widespread belief that the Government
should assist the small producer in
overcoming one of his greatest Difficult
ties, that of marketing his produce. a
matter in which he is peculiarly at
the mercy of others and in which there
is need of cooperation, which without
government assistance it is exceedingly
difficult to effect. The work could
be conducted without materially in
terfering with private business and in
the end would doubtless prove of be-
nefit to private business engaged in
similar lines of work. The service
could be kept in touch with transpor-
tation companies with a view to Sc
curing reasonable freight rates and
making such rates and various accom-
modations an object to the companies
by reason of increased production and
shipments and care in packing. Mar
kketing could be studied, buyers and
sellers could be brought together, and
information as to obtainable or desir-
ed products and facilities for trans
porting them could be furnished.
tatistician.-There should be syste-
matte and continuous collection, class
ification and distribution of informa-
ton bearing upon the foregoing and
other subjects. There is an immense
amount of information available al
ready but for the most part in scattered
form, relating to all lines of govern
mental and private activity. This
should be collected, added to, classified
and made available for all needs