274 
LAND  SETTLEMENT. 
The  widespread  interest  now  being1  taken  in  irrigation 
projects,  conservation  methods  and  kindred  subjects  has 
brought  about  a general  discussion  of  all  questions  affecting 
the  disposition  of  our  public  lands  and  the  means  to  be  em- 
ployed in  securing  desirable  settlers  and  in  assisting  them  to 
establish  homesteads. 
At  the  basis  of  the  agricultural  development  of  Hawaii  must 
be  a system  of  small  holdings  farmed  by  independent  owners. 
A system  in  which  no  land  speculation  finds  a part,  but  which 
looks  to  each  parcel'  of  land  being  settled  and  developed  by 
its  first  possessor  with  a view  to  the  permanent  establishment 
of  a home. 
That  the  number  of  agriculturists  from  whom  these  islands 
may  hope  to  derive  residents  is  by  no  means  small  is  evidenced 
by  the  fact  that  over  one  hundred  thousand  letters  are  an- 
nually  received  by  the  United  States  Reclamation  Service 
from  land  and  home  seekers.  The  desire  of  these  prospective 
settlers  is  to  be  informed  upon  every  conceivable  condition 
which  may  affect  the  value  of  procurable  land — its  situation, 
its  potential  qualities  as  a crop  producer,  the  accessibility  of 
water  and  of  markets,  the  conditions  of  climate,  the  means  of 
communication  and  the  surrounding  road  systems. 
In  order  that  the  advantages  of  Hawaii  to  home  builders 
and  to  agriculturists  may  be  brought  before  intending  settlers, 
it  is  necessary  that  exact  information  of  Hawaiian  land  con- 
ditions be  drawn  un  and  deposited  with  the  United  States 
Reclamation  office.  P»y  this  means  the  Federal  Government 
will  be  in  a position  to  put  these  islands  into  direct  touch  with 
enquirers  who  are  looking  for  land  which  affords  opportunities 
similar  to  our  own.  Such  information  in  order  to  be  of  value, 
must  be  definite  and  complete. 
It  should  give  the  situation  and  price  of  available  land,  the 
suitable  crops  to  grow  and  the  method  of  handling  them.  It 
should  state  the  amount  of  capital  which  is  necessary  to 
establish  a farm  of  a definite  size  and  the  prospective  income 
to  be  derived  therefrom.  And  in  this  connection  it  is  well  to 
remember  that  it  is  nat  the  cheap  land  which  brings  the  desir- 
able settler,  but  the  land  of  real  potential  value,  which  costs  a 
fair  price  and  holds  out  the  prospect  of  good  returns  to  men 
of  enterprise  and  intelligence.  Poor  land  frequently  means 
poor  settlers,  not  so  much  measured  by  possession  of  concrete 
wealth  as  by  the  meagreness  of  mental  equipment  with  its 
concomitants,  the  lack  of  intelligent  perseverance  and  re- 
sourcefulness. 
In  comparison  with  some  parts  of  the  mainland  it  may  at 
first  appear  that  the  price  of  Hawaiian  land  is  excessive. 
However,  when  the  splendid  potentialities  of  our  islands  are 
