Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-22
In Article Written for Star.
Bulletin Recommends Con-
tinuance of Methods.


. Having been asked by the Star
Bulletin for . brief summary Of hi
work In the islands, Ralph s. HosmeI
the retiring Superintendent Of Fores
try, has prepared the following state
nnent, which covers what he says HI
considers TO be the essential accom-
plishments IN forest work in Hawai-
during the past decade
The Division OF Forestry was estah
lished under the Territorial Board o
Agriculture and Forestry by the legis
latHre of 1903. During the summer o
1903, at the request OF the board, Mr.
VIM. l.. Hall of the U. s. Forest Ser
vice was sent to the islands 10 inves
tigate the local situation and TO sug
gest a forest policy. This he did and
in December, 1903, upon recommends
ton of the chief forester of the United
States, Mr.. Clifford Pinchot, Mr.. Hos
mer was appointed superintendent o.
forestry, reporting for duty in Homo
lulu In January, 1904. He has thus
been in charge of the forest work oi
the territory during its formative pc
Rod. Mr.. Hosmer's statement is a.
follows: -s'
During the past ten years the diyi
sion of forestry has stood consistently
for two main objects-1D the protec.
ton and proper administration of the
native Hawaiian forest on the import
ant watersheds, and ~ the planting
of economically valuable trees on non.
agricultural and other waste land.
Important Achievements.
~The more important achievements
OF the division may be summed up as
follows: "
"The creation of a forest reserve
system and the laying of the founda.
ton for proper administration OF the
forest reserves.
"A decrease of trespass on the for
ests by the extension of forest boun
dairy fences, the eradication of wild
cattle and goats in most OF the re-
serves and the awakening Of public
opinion as to the importance of these
measures.
"The securing of general assent to
the doctrine of tree planting on waste
land, as evidenced by the establish
ment OF many groves Of trees and for
est plantations throughout the terri
tory.
"An increase in popular knowledge
and appreciation of certain valuable
trees. and the keeping up of the agi.
tation of the subject of the importance
of systematic investigations with new
trees and shrubs.
The carrying on of a campaign OF
education as to the value and neces
sity of practicing forestry in these
islands, and further as to the intimate
relation which the right use of the
natural resources popularity known as
Conservation" bears 70 the contin
ued economic well-being of this terri
tory. 80
aThe enactment of forest fire law
and the organization of forest fire
service.
And some share in the strengthen
ing Of the general public sentiment in
favor of forestry and forest work that
has found expression in continued and
increased support by the legislature.
Protection Of Forests.
.'The protection OF the areas Of ma |
tive Hawaiian forest covering the i'm.
portant watersheds throughout the ter
ritory has been sought through the
OF forest reserves. The essen.
tial object is to equalize and maintain
the flow in the streams that feed the
various ditch systems which make the
water available for irrigation. power
cane fluming and domes.
tic supply. There are now 81 forest
reserves owned in Hawaii. These re-
serves include both government and
privately owned land. The total area
Is 1924 acres, of which 546.222 acres,
(6S per cent? belongs to the territory
Twenty-eight of the reserves are essI
sentially protection forests, primarily
III value for safeguarding the yer Of 4
vegetation on watersheds. The iutheFI
nine. almost all government land 'vereI I
set apart that the areas inclnded With
h their limits might eventually bel
brought under forest, or that the cont
mercially valuable timber on themI
might be administered under the beard /
II agriculture and forestry L
System Nearly Completed.
Technically, the Hawaiian forest re.
serve system has now been pretty L
nearly completed. Only few compare
lively small lands remain to be set
mart to round out the forest area
needed for the protection of the im-5i
,ortant streams. What has so far been
is essential as the first !.
,tep in the program, but to secure the
'ull benefits to be derived from the
protection of the forest 1t must be fol-
owed up by systematic administration