The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-07-24
KONA DISTRICT
As It IS TO-DAY
MOST ENCOURAGING REPORTS ON
TOBACCO AND OTHER CROPS,
MADE BY MIR. HOOGS.

William II, Hoogs, who returned
early in the week from a tour of the
Kona side of Hawaii, brought back
with him a most favorable report of
the district and a glowing account Of
his observations from a business stand
point He, admittedly, reached there
at good season, for the lantana has
been killed off to a large extent and
the fine rains of the past several
months has coated the country in a
rich green. But it was not this
alone that impressed Mr.. Hoogs. He
was struck by the evidences everywhere
of industry and prosperity, such as
was never known in that locality be-
fore.
The sugar cane on the highlands OF
Kona," says Mr.. Hoogs, lis the best
ever known there. 1t is green and
| luxuriant, forming a beautiful sight
from the roads or steamers off shore.
The new nine roller mill of the Kona
Development Company is getting SO
per cent out of the cane, which is
phenomenal and something never
dreamed of in Kona before. The out
look for next years crop on the es-
tate is of the largest yield in its his
tory.
In sizing up the splendid situation,
however, due credit must be given the
weather. The conditions in this re-
gard have been ideal. Ample rains and
warm days made the cane grow and
develop abundantly. ut could not
have been better.
while there ! had occasion to look
thoroughly into the tobacco situation.
I was all over the Hawaii Tobacco
Compauys place which is being operat-
ed by Harry Armitage and his asso-
ciates; and was also over the planta-
ton of DR.. Jared Smith. | took ample
time and was shown everything tho
roughly.
And | can tell you right here thai
the tobacco proposition in Kona pro
misses to settle the small farmer pro
blem in Hawaii Outside of the plan
tations mentioned people in large
numbers are planting small patches
and selling their product to the com
panies They are making big none!
out of it, too; fey more tina nthey wer
ever able to make out of anything
else. TO understand this, you hav
but to consider that their profit on to
bacco raised is from 1928 to $3.50 al
acre. Can that be beaten with an,
other small farmer scheme? No, | tel
you it is a gold mine for the poo
man.
In Cuba they call tobacco the poo
mans crop because with a very smal
parcel of land a man can make a goo
living for himself and his family.
is the same in Kona. 1t is the poo
mans crop; but | doubt if the Kon
growers will remain poor long, for the
are easily making more than liv
ing
II found everything at both OF tn
tobacco plantations in first class shap
and there is no doubt in the world q
: their complete success. The late MI
c. r. Blacow deserves the greatest ere
dit for what he has done. He saw tina
there was big money in tobacco an
J went about it in wey that will brin
immensely satisfactory results to tn
: stockholders of his company. Dr.
G. Smith of course, is succeeding. II
is a scientific man and is going abou
! it on scientific lines. The way he
now fixed he cannot fail if he tried
That is good deal to say; but h
has the prospect there to back it up.
"Pineapples are doing well in Konf
Cultivation is by no means as eXten
sive or as carefully carried on as o
Oahu, but the outlook is good, and
believe that in very short time pine
apples will show up very favorably wit