Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-03-25
Former Ideas Of Limit Of Production.

In 1888 we find the following reliable
statement in reference TO the limit OF pro-
duction in the Hawaiian Islands:
From an estimate which we have OBTAIN
ed from a most reliable source, the Hawai-
ian Islands have only about 100000 acres
which can be termed sugar lands; but even
of such lands we cannot make full use, eth
er on account of our scanty water supply or
ON account of location. On the Island OF
Hawaii for instance, though as far as soil
is concerned there are some tracts OF land
which to the unnitiated seem admirably
fitted for cane, they are useless; II over
1000 feet above the sea level they will yield
a crop in 80 months, and few men are bold
enough to face such a lengthy period be-
fore they get any return for their money
and work, let alone the ordinary risks which
q planter is exposed to. On the same ISL
and, as a rule, to plant cane below 400 feet
from the sea level Is dangerous on account
of the drought. Thus on our island, the
one Offering the broadcast tracts OF land for
cane cultivation. the area where this In
dustry can be successfully carried on Is con.
siderably narrowed by mere position.
AT the present time we have $1,000 acres
under cultivation for cane; and OF this
about 10000 acres are cropped each year.
Could we, which is as far as we understand
practically impossible, but for the sake OF
argument we may say, could we cultivate
the whole 100, 900 acres we could not crop
more than $4,000 acres each year. Now
from last years crop of 10000, there were
produced $4,000 tons of sugar, or about two
and One.sixth tons to the acre, taking things
by and large throughout the group.
great deal OF nonsense Is written about the
productiveness of our soil; true that In
some exceptionally favored spots, rich val
ley bottoms. and even then only for the
first crop planted as much as five or six
tons to the acre have been obtained; but
such places are exceptional. and the stats
tics of the yield of 1882 cOnclusively prove
that the average yield Of the cane lands
In these islands Is very little better than II
Is anywhere else. The very utmost, then
that we could get from our sugar lands
would be about 100000 tons a year Practi'
cally we can never obtain any such crop
for though the land may be there the eleva.
ton and the lack Of water are an insuper'
able barrier to our making use of them As
a fact Hawaii has very nearly reached her
limit of production, and what she produces
Is not a drop In the bucket when compared
with what the United States consume"
Even as late as 1898 1t was authoritative
ly stated that the limit of production of the
entire group was 100000 tons
Prediction Of 1899.
In view of all these predictions It is some.
what of a relief to quote from a report by
DR.. II. w. Wiley in 1899. who states From
the most reliable information accessible II
may be said that under the stimulus Of
American enterprise the Hawaiian Islands
will produce for export to the United States
about 100000 tons of sugar in 1910" the
total production Of the Islands then being
2S2, S07 tons.
For general statement Of development as
complied by the Bureau of Census 1900
see Bulletin No. 1863 Of the 18th Census Of
the United States issued May, 1902.
Causes that Developed Industry.