299 



"The same thing in the Hne of conservatism is true of the 

 pineapple growers, but the exportation of the past year has 

 opened the eyes of the people to what may be done. The best 

 feature in both of these industries, pineapple and rubber growing 

 is, to my mind, the fact that it is not only a business in which 

 the capitalist may embark, but is also eminently fitted for the 

 small farmer. 



"It hardly need's imagination to see what rubber may become 

 in this Territory. From what I can find in the figures which 

 have been brought to my attention, it appears that if only a 

 part of what those who should know believe to be true, comes 

 to pass, rubber will be a far more profitable crop than sugar, and 

 if planted in this Territory acre for acre with that product, will 

 bring in far more wealth to our people. There are, indeed, 

 strong grounds to believe that the rubber industry will stretch 

 to the same extent that rubber itself will." 



Mr. B. F. Dillingham, who was called on to say a few words, 

 responded in the following manner : 



A GREAT FUTURE. 



"I must say that I have been surprised, to use a familiar ex- 

 pression, over what I have seen today. I have never known 

 much about rubber, and to see the extent to which the growing 

 of this product has reached has astonished me. I am optimistic 

 by nature, unless it happens that I feel ill, and from what I have 

 seen today I must say that I feel first-class. I believe in new in- 

 dustries, and my record will show that I have always done every- 

 thing that I could to further them, to the extent of investing my 

 own money and getting my friends to invest theirs. Rubber 

 appears to me to have a great prospect ahead, and I certainly 

 hope that everything will keep on as it has so far, and if that 

 occurs there will be no complaint from anyone." 



The last speaker called upon was Ralph S. Hosmer, of the 

 Bureau of Agriculture and Forestry, who said : 



"I am very glad to be here once more and to have an op- 

 portunity to see more of the rubber plantations, which are now 

 nearly, if not quite, a success. The organization of the Rubber 

 Growers' Association can not bufbe a step productive of good. 

 The bringing together of the various interests in this line that 

 they may consult, and that the one may through this benefit by 



