The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-03-21
RODRRIG q hAfaEsON. EDifOk |
The Small Farmer "a CAR,

~ in the development Of the country through
which their lines operate Every great railroad
system employs staff of live agricultural experts
whose business is to help build up new industries
give advice, and illustrate by cooperative tests
and experiments the capabilities of the land for
new crops or increased production of old estab-
shed ones, 1t pays the railroads to dc. this be
cause increased population means growth in
freight and passenger service and larger earnings
for the roads. B.,- g. 49,
In the early days when there were cheap lands
AVAILABLE the roads simply operated free e*c1r,
sions to get people to come The railroads have
now gone farther and are trying to show their
farming clientele how to grow more crops per
acre and how to make better use Of their produce
and get more profit from the land. sfsf
1t has been suggested that the local steamship
line operating between the islands of this group
might serve its own interests and advance the
general prosperity of Hawaii by an earnest effort
to help along the minor industries, instead of
threatening to withdraw service because of the
direct competition Of the big passenger ships. Il
The civilian population Of Honolulu and the
military population Of Oahu is rapidly increasing
in numbers so that every month sees bigger de-
mand for farm produce, meats vegetables, poMl
try, fruits, milk and butter. Small farming has
failed in the past because there was no local mar
ket. The local market has now developed and
there are few Small farmers" left to reap the
advantage. So. ~ y, 45e-f Il N; Is 81
Freight conditions as affecting the sugar pro-
duced on Hawaii, Maui and Kauai have also
changed and large tonnage formerly brought to
Honolulu by small steamers now goes direct to
New York and San Francisco from outlying ports
This practise of direct shipment of bulk crops viii
undoubtedly grow rather than diminish In in
ter-sland trade the residents Of Ian the islands
want more and better local service rather than
less and if the company now enjoying monopoly
Of this business does not contemplate complete
abandonment of this field it may find liberal sup
port given competitors who promise better ser
vice and greater conveniences inSthe transporta-
ton OF minor produce and passengers. ~
The problem is a broad one and its solution
does not depend solely on immediate dividends
to be earned on the capital invested in this SER
vice. Looking at it aside from the direct interest
OF the sugar planters the chief necessity islthat
Honolulu must be fed 1t is the food problem
that would decide whether Oahu would be de-
fensible should these Islands be blociaded and
al mainland communications cut OFF. Il 81. ~,
Building up strong small farmer population
in these Islands is strai ht business proposition
1t has been considered time and again from the
political and sociological aspect but never until
TIC european war mas IL Deen reAafZed what can
happen to even the richest and most powerful
nations if their external trade is cut off. How
long could Hawaii feed itself il thrown back on
internal resources? <<2S$
One of the first essentials in making Oahu an
impregnabe naval base for the defense of the
Pacific Coast is to build up strong producing
population. 1t is well enough to have sugar to
sell but Hawaii could not even operate its plan
tations if these Islands were blockaded in war
Under these conditions and circumstances it
would appear that the nter-island transportation
company might well undertake, from the angle of
direct self-interest, the problem of building up
new industries throughout Hawaii. The great
transportation companies in the United States
proper have pointed the way and have shown how
it can be done. Their success as exemplifed by
increased dividends and profits has proved that
il can perhaps be accomplished to better advan-
tage by private initiative than through govern
mental assistance. - l-. -.