The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-10-01
The secretary's Report.

ing report at the weekly meeting of
the committees:
The Secretary's Report.
Honolulu, Sept. 80, 1909.
Chairman and Members of the Hawaii
Promotion Committee.
Gentlemen: While we all know that
our work of the past several years is
bringing continually greater results in
the number of persons who are turning
their attention in this direction, and
the public geneally is beginning also
to appreciate the fact; there are a
number of features in this very success
that are difficult to handle. l refer
to the increasing number of inquiries
from persons of small means who want
to come to Hawaii to take up agricul'
tural pursuits, or to obtain employment.
Now the policy of the Hawaii Pro
motion Committee has always been
conservative and honest. All of our
printed matter speaks for itself in this
regard. We consistently advise per.
sons against coming here unless they
have means sufficient to maintain them
selves and get away again if they are
unable to find any occupation open
which suits them. With the purely
tourist class there is no trouble; but
in the very nature of things we are
bound to get some of the other classes,
And in the natural order of conditions
we ought to be glad to get them. They
are mostly citizens-American citizens
of the great "middle Glass; the
kind of people that every community
under the American flag needs.
l realize that this is no new problem,
and that this committee has not the
power to solve it. Still we are the
ones who are daily brought face to
face with the situation, and as citizens
/ feel that we should at least give the
matter serious consideration, and the
community the advantage of our SUI
perior viewpoint. For this is one of
the things that cannot be altered ex.
cept by the crystalization of popular
opinion on some course or policy.
Now here are some samples of let
tiers which your secretary has to an
swer, on the average of about a dozen
by every mail:
"Having obtained your address
through a friend of mine, | am taking
the liberty of writing you as regards
Hawaii. I would like to know the
price of land location, quality, fertility
and what it will produce and whether
there are any close markets; the china
tic conditions: whether it 10 necessary
to irrigate; in fact all about the Is
lands that you think will interest a
homeseeker.
Thanking you for your kindness,
I ann
Here is another:
"Kindly send me your descriptive
pamphlet of the Territory of Hawaii
Also any information regarding chances
of fellow college man. pretty well
busted but delighting in outdoor work
will be appreciated.
A great many inquiries are coming
from the Northwest, where our exhibit
at the A.-Y.-P. Exposition has evident
ly made a deep impression.
Here is a letter from Tacoma, Wash
ington: -lla t1z -g
"Will you kindly send me detailed
information and illustrated pamphlets
descriptive of Hawaii.
"What are the business chances
there for a young married man, and
how does the cost of living there COM
pare with the salaries, etc.;
cam thinking strongly Of coming to
Honolulu with my wife, ifi1 can sat
isfy myself that I can do well there.
"Thanking you in advance for any
information you may be able to give
me, ! am"
To such letters as these, some of our
together with a letter calling attention
to the qualifying paragraphs Persons
asking about lands, we generally refer
to the Public Land Office or send them
copies of the public land laws, which
cannot be said to give any very def
mite promise. We always advise per
sons to come. provided they have means
sufficient to make a purely pleasure
trip of several months, with the chance
that they will find something here to
interest them.
Here is a letter along rather differ
ent lines from physician of South
ern California. The letter is addressed
to Mr.. Wood, and follows:
81 have been thinking for some time
that l would visit your Territory, and
at present ! have the opportunity to
visit the Islands on a missionary tour.
~ do not know whether you will
remember me or not, but l remember
you and often heard of your work in
connection with the Chamber of Com.
merce, and knew you very well by
sight, but | do not think / had the
privilege of a personal acquaintance,
but possibly you heard of me through
some of the different enterprises that
was interested in. You will remem.
Der the Paradise Valley Sanitarium at
National City that l started, and pos
sibly you knew of my treatment rooms
in the city.
"Now the work the company has
asked me to do is to go to Honolulu
and see what can be done in the way
of starting treatment rooms in the city
and as soon as possible start good
sanitarium on the Battle Creek plan.
/ think there was one there some time
q,