Honolulu star-bulletin., 1916-03-17


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order TO protect the homesteaders.
To this the homesteaders answer that
contracts have been drawn with Lihue
Plantation Company under the terms
the governor stipulated, and that after
long delay the governor himself
IallY ~: TtFy
The railroad from Kealia, Makee
Sugar Company property. to Linue
has been considered by the territorial
government for years. Ultimately it
was hoped TO extend it to Nawiliwilf
harbor Both Makee Sugar Company
and Lihue Plantation Company wished
to secure cane contracts with the
homesteaders of the lIapaa districts
and both figured in the negotiations
more than year ago. The governor,
faced with conflicting interests, said
that the Kauai people must get togeth-
er on common ground. This, it was
announced many months ago, had vir.
tually been reached. "
Lihue Plantation Company offered
contracts and terms which, it was
stated at the time, were approved by
Land Commissioner Tucker, and the
railroad plans were approved by ST.
perintendent of Public Works Forbes
and by Engineer w. c. Furer of the
public works, all of whom visited
Kauai at the governors direction.
The government road was to run
from Kealia to Lfhue, and in the event
that the Nawiliwili breakwater pro-
iect was completed. Lihue was then
obligated to carry the road through to
Nawiliwili harbor, thus giving road
on the entire windward side from
Kealia and around TO leeward at Ma.
wiliwili.
Homesteaders Carried Out Their Part.
Acting upon the tentative under
standing with the land commissioner
and the governor, as to the most feas.
ible line of survey, cane was planted
by homesteaders upon land contigu-
Gus to the proposed line, and some OF
the cane is now about ready TO come
off. One homesteader has about S10j
900 worth of cane. another about
$4,000, others ranging from $4,000 TO
$500 .r-.~.--., -., .~l,.--. ~
Contracts were. made with the
homesteaders by LihHe Plantation I'M
der which the plantation made ad-
vances necessary to carry ont the
planting of cane These advances, 1t
is credibly reported, are in excess of
$1d.0ees ands the preliminary railroad
work was a great; deal more. u,-'
The contracts were drawn sublert
to the approValsof the governor. The
contracts have been with the gov
ernor since February, 1Sl5-nore
than .year-it was stated today, and
have neither been approved nor dis,
approved. rs5a&. '.sr- z..r. ..s 4
Representatives of homesteaders
who have come TO Honolulu to take
the matter up with the governor and
urge action sa y that the governor first
insisted on a loRg-term contract, 10
years being the period mentioned, to
protect the homesteaGer, and later
changed his mind and now wishes 4
five-year contract. ~
Must Make New Contracts. ~ - u
The result of the delay, whatever
the reasons, is that the railroad has
not been built TO enable the" home
steaders to take off their cane ami
they are now placed in a position
where they have to make new con-
traets-whichr they say are less. al
yantageogs-wi either Lhue or the
Makee Sugar Company.
II is also credibly reported that
many homesteadefs, seeing no hope OF
getting action on the CONTRACTS IN
time for this years crop. are making
short-term contracts with the Makee
Sugar Company without the sanction
of the governor. These homesteaders