Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-06-10
Federal and State Agent Looks
Into Colonization Plan and
Discredits 1t
Especial star.Bullelin Correapondensel

L Especial oIof-DutItlll OoffenpObocl1NGl
| WAILUKU, Maui. June Sin spite
of the fact that the Portuguese consul
in San Francisco had apparently in
dorsed the proposition. definite infor-
nation is now at hand which shows
that the scheme OF o. A. Steven to IN
duce Portuguese CT the islands to inn
migrate To California was even worse
than was suspected here. 4 will be
Remembered that Steven toured the
/ islands some SIX months or more ago
and, backed By hamboyant adveTtis-
ling, created considerable interest
among the Portuguese residents in his
/ colonization plan. Ten-acre tracts OF
| land near Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
California, were offered by Steven at
| sI25 Per acre. The land was supposed
] to be good for general garden farm
1 ing. On the strength Of his repre-
scntat.cns it is understood that be-
tween 80 and 4DSaIaui Portuguese paid
Steven from S25 20 $50 on the price Of
1.-THE land. How many from other
rarts Of the territory were also taken
in is not known.
AS The result OF an editorial in the
Maui News expressing DOUBT concern
Ing tie NiouCln " iCo tdChtto VI AAo " I'll
seeking to benefit themselves as farm
ers in California, even under most ia
vorable conditions. the California state
commission Of immigration and hous-
ing started an investigation the re-
suits Of which Thoroughly discredlt
ssr o sfs ss executive as o oesr q a Se
commission, shows what he thinks Of
the mattef.
I'VE had soil expert. VINO Is an
agent of the University Of California
division of agricultural extension, and
of the United States department Of
agriculture. make a survey or the land
to which Mr.. O. A. Steven is bringing
Portuguese settlers from the Hawaiian
islands. We understand that quite a
number of Portuguese families have
already been brought to this. country
by Mr.. Steven end settled upon this.
land. You will note that the report
of this expert is anything but encour-
i aging. You will note that the agent
I-of the land company himself explains
that II is not the intention that these
peoples should make 4 living on the
land. Quite obviously, the intention
is to import labor to- be used in the
several projects referred to in Mr.
i Bryant's letter. We have letter
from the agent Of the 10 "a company to
the same effeef, although ne claims
that the land Is such thai the people
could make success upon 1t from an
agricultural peink sqf H. However,
his statenien Seem tl44 esrathtT con.
tradictory.
..,Vith regard to sfaiements which
4 have been made by otEer Portuguese.
and which have been published In the
Hawaiian islands by Mr.. steven. TO
the effect that they have been very
successful in farming IL this region,
we would state that these statements
refer to land not very far distant near
the town OF AeWater. There seems to
ibe a better streak or. land through
there md many Portuguese have been
very successful.
1--WE are furnishing you with this
information so that you may be able to
give accurate reports to any persons
making inquiries or t. do whatever
you can to prevent these people from
being deluded into the belief that they
are coming to wonderful agricul
tural colony.
Very truly yours.
tSignedl GEORGE L. BELL,
Attorney AMI Executive Officer
The expert report Is made by Y. e.
Bryant. It says IN part:
Looking at this matter purely from
an agricultural point of view this land
Is not worth this money. He gives
details to prove this contention and
AIDES:
In talking this matter over with
Mr. Lage. local general manager OF
the Crocker-Hoffman Land Company,