COM 0604.030 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ ~L Dear Editor, It has been said that thinking is the hardest work there is and that is the reason that so few bureaucrats and politicians engage in it! A couple of examples of this are the proposed tree farms and millions for a radiation plant to process papayas. First, the tree farm leases are too cheap for prime agricultural land with adequate rainfall. Second, the land will be lefr covered with thousands of stumps, which will cost about, conservatively, $25 to $35 per stump to remove from the ground. Third„ what do you do with thousands of worthless stumps? I suspect they won't be removed at all. Several hundred acres in Paauilo and Ahualoa were lefr covered with stumps that once were big, beautiful trees before they were clear cut (meaning all of them) by Capitol Chip Company. Capitol Chip Company paid the State and the Hawaiian Homes commission $2 per ton dry weight. Each tree was estimated at 4 tons with a 50% water retention giving you only $4 for each big tree. The cost of returning the land to its original condition would have cost more than the whole project was worth to either the State, Hawaiian Homes or Capitol Chip Company. Fourth, everyone in Paauilo and Ahualoa held their breath as big trucks carrying three to four logs for a total of 10-12 tons rumbled across bridges that were rated at 6-3 tons. The highways in Paauilo and Ahualoa were lefr riddled with potholes and the shoulders were deep ruts. We, the taxpayers, had to pay for the repairs. They are still in bad shape. Fifrh, there are profitable tree farms in Rotorura, New Zealand, Oregon and Washington, but they are on hillsides and steep slopes with poor soil. What do we do with thousands of acres of good soil that doesn't need irrigatlion? F11e Nn. Presented'~~ ke(. Tn: Yet. [~ate_~.4-~-i`i9.fl..,_,