Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-20
MOIR'SADVFCE
ISNDORSEDBY
PLANTATION man
Albert Horner Declares Govern
ment Tracts on Hawaii Can
Yield Food for All Islands

The suggestion Of William w. G.
NOR, 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 TO
plant and when and what crops to
plant to increase productivity, re.
cetves the emphatic Endorsement Of
Albert Horner, retired plantation
manager who Is familiar with the
regions on Hawaii where Mr.. Moir
advocated the establishment Of farm
ing experiment station.
Il can corroborate everything Mr..
Moir said as outlined In the Star.
Bulletin Saturday" said Mr.. Homer
today. The quality Of land he de-
scribed at Keanakolu is the same
class Of land that begins on the south
ern boundary of the land at Piihonua,
continuing around the northern slope
Of Mauna Kea to the western boundary
Of the land at Kaohe, rs per cent of
which Is government land.
This is first-class agricultural land
and IL about 20 miles in length and
ranges from 2 to s miles; In width and
contains approximately $4,000 acres.
Such things as corn, potatoes, oats
and the like can be raised there sue.
cessfully At Keanakolu there were
a few acres Of fruit trees set out about
thirty.five years ago, such as pears,
apples, spricots, peaches, etc. These
trees without any care whatever after
the first few years have, borne every
year heavily up to the last time was
there about six years ago.
in my opinion II that country was
developed as suggested by Mr.. Moir
and along similar lines enough food
stuffs Of corn and similar foodstuffs
could be- grown there to supply the
entire islands.
After leaving the western boundary
Of Kaohe continuing around the slope
at about the same elevation through
the Parker ranch, there Is q greater
area Of the same class of lands than
that lying about Keanakolu.
Many times in the past a large
number Of persons have made appli.
cation to the government to have
these government lands opened up in
sufficiently large tracts 80 that those
taking them up could make q living
, for themselves and families. But In
every case these. applications have
been turned down, one Of the main
reasons being lack Of transportation.
'From Keanakolu in o direct line It
IL 10 miles to the railway station at
Ookala. Expenditure Of $i0o, 900 would
put q good road through there. Again
this transportation problem might be
solved by the Hilo railroad starting a
branch line at the present upper ter
minal near the Volcano house, running
In northerly direction on q light
grade until IL 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 the terminal Of the rail.
road below the Volcano house to the
boundary Of Piihonua is 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. Moir shows very good judg.
ment In deciding that this land is
suitable for agricultural purposes"