The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-11-16
DISCUSSION or
CONSERVATION
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artesian water supplies of the islands,
special attention being given to the
artesian supplies of the island of Oahu
The data so far secured has been for
warded to MIR. w. C. Mendenhall, Geo.
logist in charge of ground water inves-
LEGATIONS of the U. S. Geological Sur
vey, and DR.. Mendenhalls report can
be expected in the near future. The
surface Investigations are in charge
of Mr.. Martin, District Engineer for
the U. D. Geological Survey.
2. The Topographic Survey of the
islands.
This work is in charge Of Mr.. c. II.
Birdseye, Chief Photographer for the
Hawaiian Division. At the present
time, the field work ofbtbe topogra-
phic survey of the island Of Kauai has
been finished and the maps will be
engraved and ready for distribution
by February of next year. On the COM
pletion of the topographic surveys, we
will have the correct information as.
regards the physical features of the
islands, the location of streams, riv-
ers, railroads, tunnels, aqueducts and
other culture and the location of reser-
voir sites for the future conservation
of the ordinary as we'll as freshet flows
of our mountain streams. These maps
will be of inestimable value to the
Territorial government in the open
ing and development of it's public
lands and to the individual and plan
tation interests. Large areas of our
lands in both public and private own
ership are terra incognito. The sur
veyors in order to make a perfect
map must cover every square mile of
the surface of the islands with the re-
suit that our unknown, unvalued lands
will have been surveyed and plotted.
These maps will also show the areas
under cultivation and definite infor-
nation as regards areas susceptible of
cultivation.
Following the completion of these
maps will be the investigation of soil
and it's agricultural value for various
crops. The local station of the U. S.
Department of Agriculture will,
through aid derived from the Conser-
walton fund, establish sub-stations on
the various islands.
At present we are without all of the
necessary information for the develop
ment of general scheme of conserva-
ton for our natural resources and un-
til such time as we are in possession
of this data, each particular unit will
have to be considered by itself. How
ever, upon the completion of the sur
veys now under way, all of the infor-
nation necessary for a complete
scheme of conservation of our natural
resources for each island can be for
mulated.
The question has often been asked:
What have we in this Territory to
conserve?" That question is readily
answered. Our waters, the agricul-
tural life of our country; our soils and
our forests. In this Territory, advan-
tage has been taken of our soils and
favorable climatic conditions and
through the development of our agri-
cultural industries, we are in posi-
ton as regards wealth and prosperity
equal If not better than that of most
any other community in this world,
but we have in a large, measure lived
upon our capital and not upon the in
terest thereof.
The large industries of this country
have and are recognizing the import
ance of the preservation of our natural
resources and their extension and have
devoted a great deal of attention to
forestry. This work has been indi-
vidual however rather than on & larger
or broader scheme of cooperation
have made a study of the costs Of
replanting deforested areas within the
present and possible future forest re-
cover the enormous resources it will
require and the long period of years
over which the work will have to ex-
tend if the deforested areas were re-
planted. The work would, of necessity
progress so slowly that its protection
against land wastes by erosions due to
wind and water would be very little.
If we are to limit our effort to the
commercial side of forestry we are not
going to attain the great end of con-
serving several of our natural re-
sources which are dependent upon for
est cover. Our great need is in for
est cover; whether it be commercial
forest or cover which will preserve the
land against wash and hold back and
conserve the rain waters. offer this
idea of forest cover or commercial
e.