The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-09-20
Experienced Grower Of
Cane Submits
Scheme.
Proposes Contract That
Would Equalize
Profits.
(From Thursday Advertiser)

(From Thursday Advertiser)
What practically constitutes the only
complete constructive plan for coopera-
ton between the corporations owning
sugar plantations and prospective
homesteaders and which provides for
sufficient financial returns to the in
dividual planter to induce him to stay
on his homestead, has been submitted
to Secretary Fisher and has received
his earnest approval so far as his
knowledge of local conditions warrants.
Before the plan was sent to Secretary
Fisher it was gone over carefully by
Governor Frear, says Albert Homer,
originator of the plans, who approves
them in all but few particulars, and
opposes these on one or two points only
because he believes they may be in
conflict with the Organic Act.
These plans as formulated by Mr..
HOrner, provide for contracts between
the individual homesteaders of dis
trict with the mill company which
grinds for such district, by which
the homesteaders agree to plant Ger.
tain amount of cane, as the beet sugar
farmers of California do with the beet
sugar mills, in return for which cane
delivered to the mill they are entitled
to certain percentage of the sugar
extracted, the price varying according
to the price of sugar in the Eastern
market.
The crux of the plan is a lengthy
and detailed contract which Mr.. Hor-
ner has put into shape and which is
printed here in connection with his let
ter to The Advertiser, which is dupli-
cate in large measure to his communica-
ton to Mr.. Fisher.
The plans are as follows:
Letter Tells of Plans.
Honolulu, September 8, 1912.
Editor Advertiser:-I have listened
with a great deal of interest to the
investigation thus far conducted by
Secretary Fisher, and as it seems that
the hardest nut to crack is that of the
successful homesteading of our govern
ment lands, i. e., the planting of gov
eminent lands with sugar cane, it oc-
cured to me that an experience of
about thirty-two years on the Islands,
during which time | have been closely
identified with the planting of sugar
cane, might have some points of inter
est and suggestion which will aid in
utilizing government lands in connec-
ton with the principal industry of the
Islands.
In 1879 our family migrated from
the State of California and came to
the Hawaiian Islands, the inducement
being contract with the late Claus
Spreckels to plant cane for his mill
which was to be located on the Island
of Maui. Under the terms of our con.
tract, upon the completion of the mill
we were to get one-half of the sugar
made from cane grown by us on the
first crop, and on subsequent crops
one-third. The contract was for term
of seven years. In our negotiations
for the contract with Mr.. Spreckels, he
honestly assured us, and l believe he
so thought, that the mill would cost
several hundred thousand dollars, and
that it would cost a like amount tC
bring water from the mountains to the
lands, all of which required irrigation
He also assured us that the cultivation
of cane was inexpensive particularly
after the first crop; that the invest
ment for planting was nominal Will,
the investment for the manufacturing
end was large and permanent.
Shortly after our arrival, although
we worked along community lines, w,
found that under the terms of our con
tract, it was impossible to even max,
expenses out of the second crop. A
that time sugar was nearly six cent
per pound. 1t became necessary, there
fore, for us to ask for revision o
the contract. This we did after takinI
off the first crop, but Mr.. Spreckel
declined to do so. After we had take
off the second crop at heavy loss I
ourselves, Mr.. Spreckels still refusin
20 make any other terms than thos
originally agreed upon, we were force
to abandon the contract. There wer
two other American farmers workin
under like contracts with Mr.. Spreckel
and they too found themselves unabl
TO make both ends meet under tn
terms they had agreed upon, and Their
fore had to abandon the fields.
Every Farmer Failed.
During the time we were negotiatir
with Mr.. Spreckels for a revision
the contract, we visited the Island
Hawaii and there found several SEQ
OF American farmers planting cane 4
the various mills. They were plantiI
under contracts which in some
stances gave them one-half Of the sug
produced from their cane, and in 9th
eases nine-sixteentbs of the sugar b
even under those terms, the farm
invariably failed, The causes were I
tent aud existed az that time but
not exist now
For instance, II was necessary
order 10 prepare d field for cane
clear up the forest, grub the lai
Hweeten the soil, fence the land "a
reduce Il 20 cultivation "a cost
from $50 20 300 am acre, which su
II was necessary Tor the planter
borrow from the min or the nill Agru
aud pay interest thereon IA "a rate wa
iug from eight 10 twelve per cont 81,
pounded on qaaftefly balances
PROM ihe time 0f commencement
rlrarlng 20 ihs iinr ihey heguu 10 q,
no hrnnht from the nugaf grown Do.