The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-07-02
RECLAMATION IS
HAWAII'S hEEO

I IfNfNnN OF NNN FNflNfNANANl fttNfNN n"
ihc Territory " HswaH by tLe Federa
government wi be- about the ouy
means which viii lead 20 the establish
ing in the Islands ~ any considerable
community OF American farmers lu
speaking VI The problems that sonfroni
ed those Interested n securing immi
grafton that viii mean the strengthen
ing of the citizen population Of The Ter
ritory, the Governor stated that the
bringing of American farmers 10 the
Islands could be successfully accom-
plished by the opening Of large tracts
Of land M one time, and that this
could only be obtained through the ex
tension Of the reclamation system
An idea of "model farming eommu
mites in Hawaii is gaining consider
able prominence IN tie publications on
the mainland Referring 10 the Haiku
land exchange the National Finance
Magazine of Chicago has the following
~ say:
"The Territory Of Hawaii is prepar
| ing 70 establish "A model farming com
munity Governor Walter j. Frear, who
has been the moving spirit in The
project, has been working II into shape
for nearly a year past, and has now
brought IL TO the point where The selee
! ton of the people 10 develop the land
is the next step There VIII DE open
ings provided for about fifty families
IN the first project, and the amount Of
land that viii be divided among them
win be about 1900 acres or about 30
to 40 acres each.
" A word Of explanation just at this
point may be enlightcning 10 many. Al.
though Hawaii is and has been for
many years, an agricultural country,
almost all the capital and energy has
centered until very recently, IN the pro-
duction Of sugar. This one production
has been developed 10 q very high de-
gree Of perfection and most Of the land
suitable for culture has been brought
into use. Aside from rice aud taTO,
grown ON marsh lands by Chinese and
native IIawaiaDs, practically the only
attempts IN diversified agriculture was
left to Chinese and japanese, and pros
ecuted In the most primitive and desul-
tory fashion. a large percentage Of the
food stuffs used IN the Territory IL mp
TO the present time brought in from
the mainland. and amounts 10 something
over $3,000,000 annually, Not only
does this include most Of the garden
and field vegetables, but practically oil
the pork products and poultry and eggs
used, and even citrus fruits 10 the value
of some $4,000 . year, The Indifferent
results obtained In this line Of ngrieul-
ture by the Orientals led 10 the popular
belief that the climate or soil Of the
island is not adapted 10 growing any
thing but sugnT In less than ten years
this theory has been explodcdj first by
the wonderful success attained in the
growing Of pineapples within this
, period, and again by the demonstrations
of the United States agricultural eE'
pertinent station, which has been doing
splendid work since the time Of M.
nexatioD, Only small part Of Tho
arabic land Of the Territory Is adapted
10 sugar culture and this, being largely
the lower cOast lands, Is the least desir
able as place of residence for white
: people, The Territory IL now, however
= awakening TO the importance Of large
citizen population Of small land owners
, rather than n few large estates, which
the sugar business has tended 10 de
p yelOp The present territorial admins
tratiOn Is thoroughly imbued with this
idea and has the strongest support from
the Federal administration Secretary
+ Garfield, of the department Of the In
|. terror, chief Of the reclamation service
Frederick II. Newell, and other govern
ment officials have visited the TerrliOrl
: during the past year and have thor
oughly studied conditions, aud are lend
ing there fullest support to the plan
Just mentioned,
"The land now TO be opened Is l0eaiei
on the island Of Maui, and IN one o
the most delightful parts Of any In ID
group, The section has proved TO b
one Of the most productive IN the IL
lands for pineapple culture, II Is be
tween ten and twelve miles from TIA
seaport Of kahnlui and n railr0nd ~
tends from the latter point TO With
about four miles OF the district and VT
doubtless be continued the iDteTYenip
distance within the negt year a pen
feet paeadam rond M the present tim
enables a number Of nuto-irueks TO eal
~ the product Of the large pneappI
canning factory almost ns economics
us could be done by rniroad, The trac
hns an elevation Of about ono th1usnn
feet above the sea and from aestheli
and hygienie standpoint, The lOenti0
could scarcely be eXeolled anywhere
tho world,
"The Territory wants 10 ene0uTal
good class Of American farmers M
, fruit growers to come TO tho Island
As fast rs practicable II is intended
subdiVide and throw open new trae
aud there is every reason 10 beie'
) that many hundreds Of American far
t HES will be thus enabled TO enjoy IL
| uudpr ilanl conditions
: "Ilawaii has something like n nj
lion and half acres OF public Ian
3 out of q total of over fonr millio
! over half Of this comprises ahs0ln
. barren mountain peaks and ancient La
= fields and can never be utilized +
! agricultural purposes, OF the renal
}, der however, there are about quart
! OF million acres which will no don
be brought under high cultivation
course Of time,
"The spirit Of some Of the large et
porations owning great areas OF "
, nahle lands much of which ID not nnd
" | cultivation Il daatIa1ltJ uNaIfTuiuu "A