The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-06-03
FRANK ADVICE TO
HOMESTEADERs
Promotion Committee Prepares a
Form Letter for Those Asking
for Information.


One Of the most difficult phases of
the promotion committees work is the
compilation of replies to inquiries from
the mainland regarding the taking up
of government lands by settlers for
farming PURPOSES, and this matter was
given fun Consideration at yesterday IS
regularsSeedy meeting, when letter
compiled by Acting Secretary Cooper
was read. This letter was an answer
to an Oregon inquirer, who represents
an association who may come to Ha-
wall to settle, if conditions are favor
able.
Although the Hawaiian land office
has form letter which answers such
inquiries, the promotion committee was
not altogether satisfied that this meets
the questions, feeling also that it held
forth too rosy future to prospective
settlers. Mr.. Cooper had Governor
Frear pass upon his letter, and the
Governor laconically inscribed on cor
ner of the letter, every good"
The committee also endorsed the let
ter. which will. with some changes, be
used in future as fern letter to reply
to mainland inquiries for lands in Ha-
waii. The letter, in part, follows;
"I do not want you to come under
any mistaken ideas.
''In the first place, Hawaii needs
and will welcome energetic and clear
headed settlers. The territorial gov
eminent win give to such all assistance
that is within its power. We have q
climate that is probably not excelled
by any place on earth. The Islands are
civilized and there is probably not
State or Territory in the Union that
has lower percentage of llliteraey'
On the other hand, we would not have
y you form the impression that you are
coming to a ready made Paradise or a
bed of roses, or imagine that there.
are no difficulties or obstacles. If you
come here to take up any line OF agr-
culture, you viii have to do so as
pioneer in a new field. For many years
and up to the present time Hawan 8
prosperity has been founded upon prac'
tically one industry and that is the
growing of sugar cane. This industry
is thoroughly developed; highly organ
lied and does not offer much oppor-
tunity to the new conner. For the most
mart, the sugar plantations are large
Ia0u are GOllIOllcu ny 81 W. BS-S-
lions. Moreover, the land adapted to
sugar cane is practically all in use. The
sugar lands, however, comprise but
small area of the Territory. which for
the most part has been cultivated to
a very slight extent. Until recently
almost every person in Hawaii has de-
pended either directly or indirectly on
The sugar industry and little effort has
been expended along other lines.
''Wc import food products to the
value of over three million dollars an
nually from the mainland, including
oranges, lemons, poultry, pork products
and vegetables to the extent of half
million dollars or more which could he
produced locally. Besides all this, we
Should he able to produce large quantl'
ties of fruits and vegetables for ex'
port to the mainland. l do not believe
anyone, familiar with our situation,
doubts that ultimately Hawaii Will be
producing all of these products just
named on a highly profitable OASIS
There are Svarious reasons why we are
NOT doing it now and there are various
difficulties to overcome before, we can
do it. In the first place we have not
fine farmers necessary to go into this
business on very large scale. Then
there are transportation difficulties
and although there is much land that
ia not in use, it has not always been
easy to get land accessible to markets
And because most products have never
been raised here on commercial basis
there are thousand and one practle.
able problems that must be met and
solved. But I do not desire to DIS
courage YOU or anyone who is IN earn
est in coming to Hawaii. All our prob
lens are working out toward salts
factory end; transportation facilities
are improving steadily; the population
s increasing; the United States Army
and Navy are stationing large bodle!
Of men permanently in the Territory
and the feeding Of these men furnishes
splendid market for great dea
more than can be raised here for many
years to come. We have federal ex
pertinent station, which, for nearly tel
years, has been working steadily fo
The benefit of the farmer of diversified
products. A college of agriculture ant
mechanic arts, maintained in part by
the federal government, is also helping
solve puzzling problems and smooth on
The difficulties for our agriculture
pioneers. The President has just sign
I'd a bill amending the Organic Ac
as relates to the demonstrating of publi
ands and this will make it possible
20 assist bona flde settlers in gettini
start.
81 am sending you, under separat
,oYer, a copy of one of our local paper
with marked article in reference t.
this matter.
eff YOU locate in Hawaii, you ca
i've in the greatest comfort the yea
,ound. There are good schools an
,hurehes If you and your friends hav
he right kind of backbone and som
capital to start on, Hawaii wants You
would recommend that one of you
party be sent ahead prepared to renal
"a month or two studying condition
carefully for himself. You will in thi
= INV no hattar able IN iudoa for vom