Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-01-28

| A detailed report of the hearing OF
| the McCrosson irrigation bill before
the Committee on Territories has
reached Honolulu. After the bill was
read by the chairman, Representative
E. l.. Hamilton, of Michigan, it was
discussed in full, Mr.. McCrosson and
George NJ. Mcclellan, Secretary to
the delegate, making frequent state
ments. The discussion is reported as
follows:
Mr.. Mcclellan: Mr.. Chairman, in
the absence of the Delegate | want
to state that this bill was sent for
ward by the authorities of Hawaii
with the endorsement, and by that
same mail | received from the Cover
nor or Hawaii a letter with reference
to the same bill, stating that it had
his approval and that he considered
that the measure should be put
through if possible at this session of
Congress, and | had previously known
in general way that Gov. Frear was
was contemplating some work of this
sort. The proposition includes the
possibility of developing in this Hase
some lands here in the southern or
leeward side of the Island of Hawaii,
where the rainfall is very limited
Here is the great windward side of
Hawaii Indicating on the map), along
which some of you gentlemen may
have sailed. You may have mixed
memories of some of your experiences
while sailing along there, but you
will recall that that is a very wet
section of the country, very green
and with heavy tropical growth.
Mr.. Humphreys: Where is Hilo on
that map?
Mr. Mcclellan: Here Cndicating).
From this point here is practically
"a continuous cane field, the trade
winds coming square on at this side.
Now, of course, that is caused by the
banking up of the clouds against
Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa This
section here (indicating) on the 9TH
er side is comparatively dry and arid.
Mr. Humphreys: Where is Napoo-
poo?
Mr.. Mcclellan: Right on this side;
right here (indlcating); and you gem
tlemen who took the drive on the
Kona side drove up to this point here
(indicating) and went around on the
windward side.
Mr.. Humphreys: went through
the islands.
Mr.. Mcclellan: went over across.
Now, on this side there is tremen-
dou surplus of rainfall, as you gem
tlemen know, and that water or a
very, considerable part of it, is flow
ing into the sea; while over here, a
long way off, is this arid land.
Now the bill provides two things:
In the first place it is general bill
providing for irrigation companies,
and in the second place the last sec
ton would authorize the necessary
legislation If it were thought best
there for the Territory to engage in
such enterprises, if it found itself
financially able to do so in the future
The Territory has no plans of do
ing anything of that sort as present.
1t may or may not meet the approval
of the committee as to whether the
Territory should or should not en-
gage in such work That of course
is an entirely separate proposition,
to be considered on its merits by this
committee, as to whether or not the
Territory should be authorized to do
that. So far as the main object of
the bill is concerned, what the gov
crnor has tried to work out in draft
ing this bill, as | understand him in
his letter, is to adapt to our condi-
tionS the points aimed at in the Cary
Acts in this country, namely, to en-
able private companies to come in
and put up the capital necessary to
carry through these immense projects
for getting water on the land,
Now, the Cary Act, as | understand
1t, turns over and makes available
the fee of these lands in the States.
1t is not contemplated out there in
Hawaii to turn over the fee of this
land, but it is the belief of the gov
ernor and those who have talked 1t
over with him that the capital to car
r., on these enterprises can only be
gotten by giving to those engaged in
the enterprise a long lease on the
land, but at the same time safeguard
ing the development of the interests
OF the Territory by making the pro-
vision that those lands are Subject
to withdrawal for homesteading nv
the Government.
am frank to say to this commit
tee that when | first glanced at this
Dill l got an unfavorable impression
OF it. When | saw that 50-year prop
osition ! reared right up, but when
came to consider that every bit of
that land is subject to withdrawal
at any time I think that that objec-
ton is largely answered. in the bill
itself. CA
The facts are that the provision in
existing leases in Hawaii for enabl-
ng the Government to withdraw
PARTS of land leased to Individuals is
not bV auy menpc a 1oad Lotto, ~