The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 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 committee' 5 work is the
compilation of replies to inquiries from
the mainland regarding the taking up
of government lands by settlers Tor
farming purposes, and this matter was
given full consideration al yesterday :
regular weekly meeting, when a 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 a future to prospective
settlers. Mr.. Cooper had Governor
Frear pass upon his letter, and the
Governor Iaconically inscribed on cor
ner Of the letter, Very good.
The committee also endorsed the let
ter. which Will. with some changes, be
used in future as a form letter to reply
to mainland inquiries for lands IN Ha-
wall. / ne 1tttSl- III pa - A'iiNN7-
Il 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 will give to such all assistance
that is within its power. We have
climate that is probably not excelled
hv any place on earth. The Isl8lds are
civilized and there is probably not
State or Territory in the Union that
has a lower percentage OF lIllteracy.
On the other hand, we would not have
YOU form the impression that you are
coming to a ready made Paradise or
bed of roses, or imagine that there
are no difficulties or obstacles. If you
come here to take up any line OF a8r-
culture. YOU VIII have to do 50 as
pioneer in new field. For many years
and up to the present time HaWaH 5
prosperity has been founded upon prac-
ticaly one industry and that IS the
growing of sugar cane. rms industry
IS thoroughly developed; highly organ
lied and does not offer much oppof-
tunity to the new conner. For the most
part, the sugar plantations are large
and are controlled by large corpora
tions. 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 mas
been expended along other lines.
eve import food products to the
value of over three million dollars an
nualv from the mainland, including
oranges, lemons, poultry. pork products
and vegetables to the extent OF han
million dollars or more. which could pc
produced locally. Besides all this, we
should be able to produce large quaint
ties of fruits and vegetables Tor eX-
port to the mainland. | do not belleVe
anyone. familiar with our situation,
doubts that ultimately Hawaii Will be
producing all Of these products just
named on highly profitable basis.
There are various 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
the farmers necessary to 90 INTO TINS
business on a very large scale. Then
there are transportation difficulties,
and although there Is much land that
is 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 a commercial basis,
there are "A thousand and one practlc-
able problems that must be met and
solved But ] do not desire TO dis
courage YOU or anyone who IS in earn
est in coming to Hawaii. All our prob
lens are working ont toward a salts
factory end; transportation facilities
are improving steadily; the population
is increasing: the United States Army
and Navy are statoning large bod es
of men permanently in the Territory
and the feeding Of these men furnishes
a splendid market for great deal
more than can be raised here for many
years to come. We have a federal eX-
pertinent station. which. for nearly ten
years. has been working steadily for
The benefit of the farmer Of diversified
products college Of agriculture and
mechanic ants. maintained in part by
the federal government is also helping
solve puzzhng problems and smooth out
the difficulties for our agricultural
pioneers. The President has Just sign
ed bin amending the Organic Act
rs relates to the demonstrating Of public
lands and this viii make it possible
to assist bona fde settlers in getting
q start
81 ana sending You, under separate
cover. II copy of one of our local papers
with a marked article ja reference to