Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-08-09


them. This is the primary reason
that has brought David Lloyd Conk-
ling, treasurer Of the Islands, to New
York at this time, says the New York
Sun of July % ST. =.
+ He has negotiated here a govern
ment loan of $500, geo on an issue of
bonds. This money, together with
$l,600,000 that the Hawaiian Legisla-
ture has voted to appropriate, is to
be used largely for the building of
greater dock facilities in the Islands
TO accommodate the increased ship
ping that is looked for through the
Panama Canal.
When the big fleet came into Ho-
nolulu in 1908 on the long cruise" said
Mr.. Colkling yesterday, I'VE could
only accommodate eight of the big
ships at our docks. Since then the
dock facilities have been increased,
so that now We could accommodate
twelve. And before the canal opens,
by the last of next year. we expect
to have completed dock facilities FOR
sixteen big ships of deep draught.
Expect Much Of Canal.
great things for Hawaii. We look for
our commerce to increase heavily For
instance, in the sugar industry, which
Is the chief revenue of the Islands,
the expense of shipping to the Eastern
Coast of the United States ought to be
cut down one-half.
LAS this sugar IS transported at
present it is under the expense of be-
ing handled four times. 1t is shipped
the Mexican isthmus,- there reloaded
and transported by rail to the Gulf of
Mexico, where 1t is reshipped again
to its northern destination. The ca
nal shipment will cut out those two
rehandlings and also the cost of rail
transportation.
THE sugar crop In the Islands has
increased from 100000 to 100000 tons
In less than ten years. It is con-
tinuous crop. Labor is never unem-
ployed in the fields. Its increase has
been due to improved methods Of
handling and principally to the adj
vantages derived from the close union
of Hawaii with the United States. The
strides that we have been making in
methods Of handling may be recog-
nized from the fact that the sugar
making machinery that we have been
making In the Islands ourselves at
the Honolulu iron Works is now be-
ing shipped to all the sugar countries
of, the Pacific, including Formosa and
the Philippines"
Defends Tariff.
Mr.. Conkling said that the removal
of the tariff on raw sugar would in
jure the Islands tremendously and
would be strongly opposed by the
planters. 1t is true, he said, that
some of the profits on sugar planta-
lions are very great, amounting to As
per cent. on some Of the smaller and
moderate sized plantations.
The second big thing that the Pa
mama Canal will do for the Hawaiian
Islands, said Mr.. Conkling, is that it
will enable them to put Hawaiian
fruit on American markets in the
East, as they can not do now. Trans
continental railroad shipping is pro-
hibitive in price.
In spite of the fact that transporta-
ton charges for pineapple export are
six times the cost of the pineapples
in Hawaii, Mr.. Conkling points out
that the industry in canned pineapple
has increased q hundredfold since
1903, until it now amounts to an ex-
port Of. 100000 pineapples annually.
The first crop of Hawaiian tobacco
is now in Lancaster, Pa, being made
1T "a M
is only a very small crop that will
make up into but $4,000 cigars. 1t Is
a beginning and ought to be success
full"
Part of the proceeds from the issue
of bonds that Mr.. Conkling has just
placed here are to be used for the
extension of the water and sewer
works of Honolulu, necessitated by a
large increase of residences. 1t is
another phase Of the preparations for
the increased activity already felt
with much more to follow as the re-
suit of the Panama Canal.
Still another factor in the life of the
Islands is the progressive campaign
for the elimination of unsanitary
lands that is now going on.
Tells Of Drydocks.
lin connection with our modern
dock facilities we shall also have
ready shortly the big naval drydock
at Pearl Harbor, which will be capa-
BILE of accommodating the navy's ships
for any kind of repairs. We shall
also have in time for the canal float
ing drydock of a private concern
which will accommodate for minor
repairs"
Mr. Conkling reported the Islands
in strong financial shape. For this
year Hawaii will have a balance OF
trade in her favor Of $12,000,000 The
exports will total $50,000,00O and the
imports 100000. The bonded debt
is $5,500,000, which is only 3.O8 per
cent of the assessed valuation of the
land on the Islands The last census
showed that the assessed valuation
had increased from S171,000,000 to
$176, 100000 in the last decade.
For the last seven years the treas
inv IF tho Territory has carried over