Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-09-23

Hawaii was hc enactment last
March by the Territorial Legislature
of the law authorizing a special in
come tax ito promote the conserva-
tiOn of the natural resources of the
Territory through immigration and
other means" Primarily an immi-
grafton measure. this law, Act &C OF
the Session Laws of 1909, provides
that a tax of 2 per cent in addition
to the existing income tax, shall be
levied on all incomes over $4,000.
Encouragement Of Immigration.
Threc-fOurths of the money so de-
rived is TO be used for the encour-
agement OF immigration to the Terri
tory of Hawaii in aid and develop
ment Of the agricultural resources
and condi,ions:" one-fourth for the
development. conservation, improve
ment and utilization of the natur-
al resources of the Territory" A
subsequent act provided that to this
fund shall be charged the expenai-
lures made on account of the work
carried on by the Territorial Board
of Agriculture and Forestry, the
aid to the Hawaii Experiment sta
ton, and the money set apart for
photographic and topographic sur
veys of the islands, to be undertake
en- by experts from the U. S. Geologic
cal Survey. BY transferring the
appropriations for these departments
to this special fund. the advantage
was secured of reducing somewhat
the regular budget and thereby in
creasing the amount available for
other departments. II Is mot yet
apparent Just how much this special
income tax will yield. but II seems
probable that the allotments for the
several existing bureaus just named
will be somewhat greater than in
the past. The provision for the ny
geographic and topographic surveys
is of course new Item.
Water Problems.
From a conservation standpoint,
The important feature of this act is
that provision Is here made for the
the first time for start in the sys-
tematic study OF the water problems
OF the Territory and the accurate
mapping of the semi-arid lands.
Both Of these are essential perequis-
! ties to any far-rcaching plans for
the development and ultimate set
tlement Of these areas. Tho pas.
sage Of this law makes II possible to
follow up the recommendations of +.
II. Newell. contained in his master
ly report entitled '1iawaii--its nat
ural resources and opportunities fol-
home making" This report, Il will
he remembered, is the outcome of a
trip to the islands made by Mr.
Newell last autumn, by direction OF
the then Secretary of the Interior,
Hon. James X. Garfield. II is en-
phatic evidence Of the value of get
ting influential Government officials
to visit the Islands. Mr.. Newell was
detailed to come here almost imme-
diately 90 Secretary Garfield's re-
turn.
| Parenthetically, let me here urge
lall those who have not yet read Mr.
Newells report to lose no time in
getting copy and becoming famil,
lar with II. The Promotion Com.
mittee has 1t for distribution. Cop,
les may be had free upon applica'
ton.
Reclamation Work.
Regarding the work now actual!
under way, Mr.. Mendenhdli will
speak to you in detail OF the investi
cations that Mr.. Leighton and h,
have in mind. Enough for me {,
say that the work started ,by then
IL the beginning of one of the mos
important steps toward the reclama
ton through irrigation of consider
able area of semi-arid land through
out the Territory. Without waite
these lands are of comparatively low
value. With water they will no
only become highly productive, .bu
rightly handled can be made tn
basis for American homes. And thi
Is the ultimate object - the goa
toward which all conservation worl
both here and on the mainland l
directed - the making possible o
homes for the people.