Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1910-02-25
Greenfield Writes from HonDlula
Honolulu, Feb. II. 1910.
Mr.. w W. BOoher,
Elko. Nevada.

Elko. Nevada.
Dear Mr.. Booher:
At last we are in the United States.
Our distant territorial possessions are
intensely interesting. Since they are
now u own possessions, | am going TO
indulge in Il few statistics.
Every American should know some
thing about our possessions wherever
located. Tho Hawaiian islands have
been well said TO be the loveliest fleet
of islands that lie anchored in any
ocean They were formerly known rs
the Sandwich islands and are entirely
volcanic. There are eight inhabited is
lands in the group, the largest of which
contains 1000 square miles. Altogether
there are 600 square miles. These IS
lands were originally settled by the ma
tives of Tahiti in 800 y. ID. The ancient
Hawaiians were barbarians, but never
cannibals. Till Kamehameha's suhiu-
cation Of all the islands at the dawn of
the nineteenth century, ffeudal govern
ment prevailed and wars were almost
constantly waged
The islands were discovered by for
eigners several times. AJapanese junk
drifted into Kahuhui bay in the thir-
| tenth century and its crew intermar-
ried with the natives. This is a most
remarkable example of daring on the
part of the Japs, for the distance trdv-
eled by this junk WAS greater than from
Spain to America, and it was three cen
turtles before Columbus sailed for the
Northwest passage.
In 1920 missionaries came from the
American Congregational board. In
1891 a republic was established In
1896 the Islands Were annexed and two
years later became an integral part of
the United States. They send a mem
Der t our house in Congress who has
the privilege of the floor, Int no vote.
1t is a fallacy to suppose that these
islands are a burden to the United
States. On the contrary they have al
ways beer self supporting. During the
past year the Honolulu custom house
collected over Sl.jJ0,00 and the post
office, $50. 800. There is an appropria-
ton of $3.50, 900 for afederal building for
Honolulu, but all the Improvements yet
made are more han equaled by the in
come from the territory. Hawaii is a
good Customer of the United States.
OF thu $50, 900. 900 worth of goods i'm
ported in one year, SO. 000, 900 worth
| came from the limited States.
The largest dry dock and harbOr in
the world are tobe built at Honolulu,
and will bc the American Malta of the
Pacific.
In these islands sugar is king. Nine
tenths of the people have their living
directly or indirectly from this product.
Enough sugar is raised here 10 feed one
fifth of the population of the United
States. Sugar yields on an average five
tons to the acre. The pine apples Of
| Hawaii are the finest in the world.
| Many thousand tons are shipped. There
are ten canneries, with 10, 900, 900 cans
output. From her markets oranges eau
he put into New York n month before
| California or Florida can supply them.
Wages here are about % per cent
| higher than they are in the United
States. The income tax for all whose
income is over $500 is 2 per cent All
unskilled labor is done 10y Orientals.
| The natives think manual labor too
mental In this they lack one Of the
qualities that has made America great,
namely. the desire Of the high class
American to 60 with his men into the
field Of labor.
When Captain Cook came to these is.
lands there were iOO, 900 natives. This
nnnber is said to have beer cxaggerat.
cd, but a very conservative estimate
would make it 2jO. 900. Today. 50 rap
id has been the defamation. there are
but $4,000. The decrease has been
caused by disease and plague, introduc-
cd by missionaries and merchants.
Today there are ~. 900 Japanese. 10000
Chinese and 5000 Koreans in the islands
SO in landing here We are touching the
threshold Of the far east. Americans
number only only 7 per cent Of the pop
%ulation.