3» 
13,825  feet;  Maui,  10,032  feet;  Kauai,  5,250  feet;  Molokai,  4,958 
feet,  and  Oahu,  4,030  feet.  The  large  grants  or  divisions  of  land 
as  a rule  stretch  from  the  mountains  to  or  toward  the  sea  with 
their  length  out  of  all  proportion  to  their  breadth.  The  govern- 
ment lands  do'  not  lie  in  one  body  but  are  separated  by  private 
holdings.  The  soil  is  of  volcanic  origin  and  varied  in  character. 
The  total  area  of  government  lands  is  approximately  1,676,705.07 
acres,  a large  area  of  which  consists  of  lava  fields  and  rocks 
unsuitable  for  agricultural  purposes  or  even  pastoral  purposes. 
While  certain  comparatively  large  areas  may  be  classified  as 
pasture  lands,  the  area  of  first-class  agricultural  land  is  small  in 
comparison. 
Primarily  the  situation  of  the  land  demonstrates,  first,  that  the 
land  laws  of  the  United  States  founded  on  the  Jeffersonian  sys- 
tem of  survey,  are  inapplicable ; second , that  the  varied  character 
of  the  land  and  the  different  climatic  conditions  affecting  different 
localities,  require  an  elastic  system  of  laws,  as  no  strict  and 
precise  rule  can  be  laid  down  which  will  be  applicable  to  all;  and, 
third,  that  the  area  of  good  first-class  land  is  comparatively  small, 
and  therefore,  in  offering  land  for  homestead  purposes,  the  quan- 
tity for  each  individual  should  not  be  large,  determined  by  its 
character,  productivity  and  situs. 
HOMESTEADS. 
In  order  that  the  public  domain  may  be  peopled  with  persons 
who  desire  to  become  actual  settlers  on  the  land,  the  Commission 
believes  that  the  law  should  be  so  framed  and  administered  as  to 
provide  liberal  terms  and  give  sympathetic  treatment  to  the  bona 
fide  settler  and  at  the  same  time  protect  the  government  by  proper 
limitations  from  abuses  against  governmental  liberality.  In  other 
words,  the  laws  should  test  and  enforce  the  bona  tides  of  the  set- 
tler. Too  much  stress  cannot  be  laid  upon  the  point  that  once 
the  government  is  satisfied  as  to  bona  fide  intent  of  a settler,  a 
sympathetic  and  liberal  administration  of  the  law  should  be 
accorded  him.  Every  assistance  should  be  rendered  to  enable  him 
to  fulfill  the  conditions  of  his  agreement  and  no  stumbling  blocks 
or  trivial  technicalities  or  forced  constructions  should  be  indulged 
in  to  discourage  him.  To  accomplish  this  result,  the  Commission 
recommends  a very  low  price  and  liberal  terms  of  payment,  in 
consideration  of  which  the  settler  should  agree  to  properly  culti- 
vate and  reside  upon  the  land.  The  patent  or  title  should  be  with- 
held for  a sufficient  length  of  time  to1  test  the  bona  fides  of  the 
settler  and  prevent  speculation. 
The  methods  now  provided  by  law  which  are  adaptable  for 
homestead  purposes  are  first,  999  Year  Lease;  second,  Cash  Free- 
hold ; third,  Right  of  Purchase  Lease ; fourth,  Settlement  Asso- 
ciations. 
