45 



and small timbers of several species of Eucalyptus, cut in the 

 Tantalus Forest under the direction of the Division of Forestry, 

 are now being subjected to various seasoning tests. The results 

 of these investigations will later be made public, probably in a 

 bulletin to be published by the College. 



Through an arrangement with the Oahu Railway and Land 

 Company railroad ties have been cut from three species of 

 Eucalyptus growing on Tantalus, E. globulus, E. robusta and 

 E. cornuta, for trial under varying conditions in the track around 

 this island. The ties are now being seasoned. When they are 

 laid, careful record will be made and kept of their relative value. 



LUMBERING OPERATIONS. 



The exploitation of certain forests of the "commercial class" 

 on the island of Hawaii has continued during the past two years ; 

 more particularly the logging of Ohia Lehua in the Puna District 

 for railroad ties and other lumber. 



In January, 1910, Mr. J. B. Castle's lumber company, now 

 known as the Pahoa Lumber Mill, secured from the Territorial 

 Government at public auction, the right to lumber the forest on a 

 tract of unleased government forest land in Puna, adjoining the 

 Kaohe Homesteads at Pahoa, and having an approximate area 

 of 12,000 acres. 



The Governor not deeming it expedient that this area should 

 be set apart as a forest reserve prior to the lumbering, the Board 

 of Agriculture and Forestry has no official connection with the 

 management of the tract, but in the contract between the lumber 

 company and the Commissioner of Public Lands there were in- 

 cluded certain provisions suggested by the Superintendent of 

 Forestry as the result of investigations made at the request of 

 the Land Office. 



Under the terms of the contract, which runs for ten years from 

 January, 1910, the lumber company pays to the government a 

 stumpage price of $5.00 per acre for all forest cut over; subject, 

 however, to the termination of the contract at the option of the 

 government, after the expiration of five years. 



The area covered by this contract is, as has been said, 12,000' 

 acres ; a block of heretofore practically unexplored forest. A 

 portion at least of this tract is agricultural land, which will in 

 due course be opened up for settlement. The section that is 

 suitable only for forest ought to be set apart as a forest reserve. 



In the matter of the utilization of Ohia Lehua, the original 

 contract between the Pahoa Lumber Mill and the Santa Fe 

 Railway has been revised. Ties are still shipped to California, 

 but increasing attention is being paid to finding a market for Ohia 

 for uses of higher grade. Especially is an effort being made to 

 introduce Ohia as flooring a use to which the firm, close texture 



