The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-06-19
Even at Sacrifice.

HUnder the laws existing the terri
torial government can be forced to part
with its lands even at an economic sac
riiee Of its income.
This fact would not be so pertinent
or serious were those seeking these
5nds able to make as good or better
use of them than the government Is
now making.
1.-THE government earnestly desires
its agricultural lands to be homesteaded
where conditions and circumstances are
such the homesteader may reap The ma.
terial and social benefits intended by
the principles ana laws governing such
transfers of land.
No Fake Hotnesteaders.
fefhe government is unaiterably on.
posed to land speculation BY designing
homesteaders. The government, how.
ever, believes tho limited areas OF
public lands under its control should
not be earelessly parceled out in way
to iTiinrc the public at large without
corresponding benefits to the home
steader. an iaiFi, s'
f'For instance, on the Island of Maui
2,4sG50 acres of government cane land
now bring in a rental of $l2,331.75,
The rainfall on these lands does not
exceed five inches per annum. They
are, now partly cultivated by hand,
with an implement called mattack,
us the lower area Is too rocky for eul-
tivation by larger and usual imple-
ments. These lands are irrigated BY
| privately owned water brought from
distance.
"'Somc twenty-six people have, under
the law, dcmanded d portion Of these
lands be opened for homesteading On
recent visit to Maui viewed these
lands with a committee representing
the above people. The Lahaina Water
Works could furniSa water for their
domestic use only.
t TIC Grow K4ave.
81 inquired what they proposed to
substitute for cane.
"They informed me that they pro-
posed to let the land grow up TO alge;
eroba and sell wood, beans and honey
\ therefrOm.
"The largest dealer in wood, beans
and honey, and planter Of algeroha,
informs me that, with hut FIVE inches
Of rain annually, about sixteen years
must elapse before any yield can be
expected. A Z
"a have directed that special in,
quiries be made of Nhe proposed home;
steaders, chat we may be sure their
plans are feasible before the Territory
surrcnders its income or parts with its
land, Or the homesteader risks his
means.
ssShould tho association conclude u
Flake chances, and force the govern
ment, the government will have done
It's duty by the public and the home
steader, by seeking 10 conserve it'
Property, but, b. law, must and viii
open the lands.
Another Variety.
" Another variety Of homesteading /,
shown on Hawaii, whore an area Of
/ some 1902 acres of cane land has beer
recently homesteaded, but, having Sc
cured the land, the homesteadcrs fOunt
themselves not only unable TO conform
TO the terms, but unable 20 save thu
cane rattoons growing on the land,
They desired 10 practically !eas'
their homesteads TO the plantation
This, being contrary to the purpose o.
the law, consent was refused by th'
| government.
Not Hoaesteading
:" In order to save. the homesteade
and a waste Of property, form o
agreement was entered into by whicl
the homesteader tentatively does bust
ness and works his holdings. The es
sential fact is the plantation is force
TO do practically all the work an,
finance the whole proposition This /
not homesteading, but is as near it a
circumstances permit IN this instance
i Two Experi-nents
1 "The two large homesteading tract
in the Territory now demanding on
attention are those at Haiku, Maui
land Kappa No ! and Kappa No. Z
Kauai, and prospectively at Waialus
Kauai
A''The hon,esteaders at Haiku ar
said TO be of highly educated class
the claim being that fully one half 0
them are college graduates. 1t woul