369 
vantage  was  secured  of  reducing  somewhat  the  regular  budget 
and  thereby  increasing  the  amount  available  for  other  depart- 
ments. It  is  not  yet  apparent  just  how  much  this  special  income 
tax  will  yield,  but  it  seems  probable  that  the  allotments  for  the 
several  existing  bureaus  just  named  will  be  somewhat  greater 
than  in  the  past.  The  provision  for  the  hydrographic  and  topo- 
graphic surveys  is,  of  course,  a new  item. 
From  a conservation  standpoint  the  important  feature  of  this 
Act  is  that  provision  is  here  made  for  the  first  time  for  a start 
in  the  systematic  study  of  the  water  problems  of  the  Territory 
and  the  accurate  mapping  of  the  semi-arid  lands.  Both  of  these 
are  essential  prerequisites  to  any  far-reaching  plans  for  the  de- 
velopment and  ultimate  settlement  of  these  areas.  The  passage 
of  this  law  makes  it  possible  to  follow  up  the  recommendations 
of  Mr.  F.  H.  Newell,  contained  in  his  masterly  report  entitled, 
“Hawaii — its  natural  resources  and  opportunities  for  home- 
making.” This  report,  it  will  be  remenribered,  is  the  outcome  of  a 
trip  to  the  islands  made  by  Mr.  Newell  last  autump,  by  direction 
of  the  then  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  Hon.  James  R.  Garfield. 
It  is  emphatic  evidence  of  the  value  of  getting  influential  Gov- 
ernment officials  to  visit  the  islands.  Mr.  Newell  was  detailed 
to  come  here  almost  immediately  on  Secretary  Garfield’s  return. 
Parenthetically,  let  me  here  urge  all  those  who  have  not  yet 
read  Mr.  Newell’s  report  to  lose  no  time  in  getting  a copy  and 
becoming  familiar  with  it.  The  Promotion  Committee  has  it 
for  distribution.  Copies  may  be  had  free  upon  application. 
Regarding  the  work  now  actually  under  way  Mr.  Mendenhall 
will  speak  to  you  in  detail  of  the  investigations  that  Mr.  Leighton 
and  he  have  in  hand.  Enough  for  me  to  say  that  the  work 
started  by  them  is  the  beginning  of  one  of  the  most  important 
steps  toward  the  reclamation  through  irrigation  of  considerable 
areas  of  semi-arid  land  throughout  the  Territory.  Without 
water  these  lands  are  of  comaratively  low  value.  With  water 
they  will  not  only  become  highly  productive,  but  rightly  handled 
can  be  made  the  basis  for  American  homes.  And  this  is  the 
ultimate  object — the  goal  toward  which  all  conservation  work, 
both  here  and  on  the  mainland,  is  directed — the  making  possible 
of  homes  for  the  people. 
It  has  so  often  been  said  that  what  Hawaii  needs  is  more  Ameri- 
can settlers  that  the  statement  tends  to  become  trite  through 
repetition.  But  it  is  none  the  less  true.  Because  of  the  very 
fact  of  its  isolated  geographic  position  there  are  put  upon  this 
Territory  by  the  Nation  certain  duties.  These  can  most  effi- 
ciently be  performed  only  when  there  is  present  in  Hawaii  a 
vigorous,  self-reliant  American  community,  of  sufficient  numeri- 
cal size  to  control  the  local  situation.  From,  the  standpoints  of 
military  necessity,  commercial  development  and  social  betterment 
it  is  alike  essential  that  there  be  an  increase  in  Hawaii  in  the 
number  of  American  homes. 
