The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-01-04
hutchinson Sugar
Plantation :. +.
In Fine Condition
Waving Fields Of Green Cane On
Mountain Side Make Attrac-
tive appearance WAS Affect
ed Some BY Drought
B. r. Bridgewater IN mo Post.Herald)

ed Some BY Drought
(E. r. BridgeWatsr In Hilo Post.fIeraid)
NAALEHU, December l5--stretcb.
ing along the upper side OF the govern.
nient for a distance Of m6re than ten
miles, and coating the slopes Of Mauna
I.oa to, an elevation of nearly three
thousand feet with waving green
mantle Of sugar cane, is the Hutchin.
son Sugar Plantation. The holdings
originally included, three separate mills,
one at Naalehu, one at Honuapo and
another at Hilea, representing as many
distinct plantations. -#.n
In 1889 the Hutchinson Sugar Com.
pany came into existence, when the
mills were practically amaIgamated,
the mill at Hilea being dismantled at
that time, while the mill at Naalehu
remained in operation until 1909, when
the mill at Honuapo was sufficiently en-
urged to handle the entire crop Of the
plantation, but few evidences remain
ling at the other two points to indicate
the former mill sites. The mill was
kept at Honuapu, from the fact that
the government landing was easy Of
aecess, the same being within a few
minutes haul from the mill warehouse.
Water Big Factor ,#
The landing Of this plantation lies in
what might be termed semi-dry belt.
where a shortage of rainfall at times,
seriously interferes with the growing
crop. Owing to this fact, tremen-
dous sum of money has been expended
in securing sufficient water for fluming
and for ordinary plantation use, more,
than sixty miles of fluming having
been constructed for the purpose, and
the mountains invaded 10 the depth of
twelve miles before even preliminary
water sources could be tapped. The
land being of a porous nature much
rainfall is necessary for best results,
and the recent drought has done much
to retard the 1919 plant crop, much re-
planting becoming necessary in order
to secure q satisfactory stand. " & E..
Acreage in Cane
The plantation has aiittle more than
five thousand acres under cultivation,
and as grinding depends largely upon
the supply of water for fluming, the
mill Is kept going ut intervals pretty
much during the entire year. The out
put for the present season is estimated
to be in the neighborhood Of $500 tons,
but would have been much more had,
the recent drought not been so severe.
The mill has a capacity of fifty tons
of sugar daily and within the past five
years, under the efficient management
Of Mr.. George Glib, much modern
machinery has been added to the
NJ nnA NJ al g..
lures in connection with the mill is the
well equipped machine shop which Is n
part of the late machinery installed,
and wherein any ordinary breakage in
the mill is repaired. .t
Stock Ranch Included 1
The Waiohinu Agriculture and Graz
ing Company, with a herd of more than
five thousand head of fine cattle, is
also owned and controlled by the
Hutchinson Company, the thousands Of
acres Of pasture lands devoted to ranch
purposes adjoining the cane land. The
plantation employees are furnished with
their meat from the ranch at cost,
which amounts to about twelve cents
per pound, the meat being dressed and,
handled through a local butcher shop
provided by the plantation for the ppr-
pose. Here, too, is where the drought
has got in its deadly work, for it has
so badly cooked the pasture that while
there may be a plentiful supply of eat
tie, yet there is u decided lack of cattle
that might BIO considered In proper con-
ditiOn for the butcher, thus the sup
ply of choice beef has been greatly epr-
tailed through the failure of rain. Tits
laA h.. al Id L. ~
the non-shipment Of cattle to the Ho.
nOlulu market. However, the breaking
of the long drought has greatly inn
proved the pasture land and the reguI
lar shipping will probably be resumed
In the near future. 4
The management Of the cattle ranch
is in the able hands of +. H. Edwards,
who for the past ten years has labored
diligently in bis endeavors to attain
the satisfactory results which obtain
| today. Vs.
Labor Well Cared For TIA
| Manager Glib gives his personal at
| tenfion to the comfort of his workmSn,
providing his skilled labor with sepsf-
ate cottages equipped with every mod
ern convenience and pleasant surround
ings, while the unskilled labor Is
housed In neat cottages, surrounded by
the very latest in sanitary fixtures. An
Indication Of the contentment Of the
labor on this .plantation is manifested
in the fact that not more than a dozen
who enjoyed the bonus money qSit
their work. Inasmuch as there are sub.
| iects here from all parts Of the globe,
just as there are on other plantations,
yet there seems to be that feeling of
fellowship among the employees here,
which applies to both skilled and I'm
skilled workmen, that binds them in o
kindred of eompanionship which re-
fleets deserving credit on the manage,
ment of the well regulated institution!
The writer has kt.d the pleasure OF
the hospitality of Manager and Mrs.
Glib, and Mr.. and MRS. l.; A. de la
fNux, the latter residing in Hilea, in
I home which is known far and vide
for its genuine hospitable portals.
Company 81 onicial star ...t
*Those responsible for the highly sat.
isfactory condition Of the plahtation
are: Manager George Glib. Head Oyer-