Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-20
MOIR'SADWCE
ISIVDORSEDBY
PLANTATION MAN
Albert Horner Declares Govern.
r1ent Tracts on Hawaii Can
Yield Food for An Islands

The Suggestion OF William w. O..
Moir, East Hawaii agent Of the ter.
ritorial food commission, that the com.
mission take over large tracts OF land
on Hawaii suitable for agricultural
production and there by example and
experiments teach the farmer how 70
plant and when and what crops 10
plant to increase productivity, re-
ceiyes the emphatic Endorsement Of
Albert Horner, retired plantation
manager who 10 familiar with the
regions on Hawaii where Mr. NOR
advocated the establishment Of farm
ing experimental station. It,.
q can lcorroborate everything Mr..
NOR said as outlined In the Star.
Bulletin Saturday" said Mr.. HorneT
today. The quality Of land he de.
scribed at Keanakolu Ii the same
class Of land that begins on the south
ern boundary of the land at Piihonua,
continuing around the, northern slope
5 Of Mauna Kea to the western boundary
Of the land az Kaohe, Is per cent Of
which In government land. 49, ..--
This 10 first-class agricultural land
and Ia about 20 miles In length and
ranges from 2.to5 miles In width and
contains approximately $4,000 acrea.
Such things as corn, potatoes, oats
and the like can be raisedethere sue
cesSfuIly. At Keanakolu there were
a few acres of fruit trees set out about
thirty-fiye years ago. such as pears,
apples, apricots, peaches. etc. These
trees withOutsany care whatever after
the first few years have borne every
year heavily up to the last time ] was
thefe about SIX years ago. -
1In my opinion II that country was
developed as suggested by Mr.. Moir
and along similar lines enough food.
stuffs cf corn and similar foodstuffs
could te grown there to supply the
entire Islands.
after leaving the western boundary
OF Kaohe continuing around the slope
&C about the same elevation through
the Parker ranch, there 10 Q greater
area Of the same class Of lands than
that lying about Keanakolu.
MANY times In the past large
number Of persons hDve made applf
fcation 70 the government to have
these government lands opened up IN
sufficiently large tracts 20 that those
taking them up could make living
for themselves and families. But In
every case these applications have
been turned down, one Of the main
reasons being lack Of transportation.
Prom Keanakoiu In Q direct line 1t
ID 10 miles 70 the railway station at
ookaIa. Expenditure 1cf 500. 900 would
put good ROAD sthr0ueh there. Again
this transportation problem might be
solved BY the Hilo railroad starting .
branch line at the present upper ter.
minai near the Volcano house. running
a ncftherly direction on . light
grade unfl at reached the southern
boundary Of Piihonua at an elevation
Of about $500 feet The grade from
there on around the slopes Of Mauna
Kea would be about level. The dis.
lance from tie terminal Of the rail.
road below the volcano house to the
boundary Of Piihonua ID between is
and 20 miles. Its construction would
be similar TO the work required to
construct the present railroad
through the forest Just above Hilo.
"Mr. NOR shows very good judg.
sment In deciding that this land II
suitable. for agricultural purposes"