The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-03-24

Mn. EDIroR-In an editorial Of the ComnHncIAI
ADVERTISE March 10.) you very forcibly refer 10
the existing want OF sewerage, and every one pos-
sessed Of sound reason must consider that IL IL high
time, under existing circumstances. that some earn
est efforts should be made 20 keep up the fame aud
good name Of Honolulu AZ . healthy city. The season
Is advancing rapidly and more rapidly than usual
towards what Is styled the heated term. We are
In the middle Of March. and the Thermometer has
already been up 10 the 90s. and before long II will
be up TO 1909. Those are degrees Of heat. whose
like are unknown TO have prevailed In this city
within the memory OF the Oldest inhabitant, but siIl
the consequences are Of natural oansos-ths deutruo-
tion Of the forests In Nuuanu Valley. That n would
rain more in Honolulu than In the valley. that the
heat in town would increase. and that the tssds
Winds would give way 90 southern breeaes are pre-
dictlons which I made during last fall when I adso-
Gated the necessity Of replanting the forests Ia tho
valley. and l think, and every one la Honolulusnust
coincide with me, that my predictions are becoming
true. The laws OF Nature are more strictly enforced
than the laws Of the Modes and Persians. This much
as q preface In reviewing your editorial On sewerage.
A system Of sewerage, when 1t can be introduced
thoroughly, is undoubtedly one Of the best safeguards
Of q city's health. bat experience has shown that
wherever sewerage 10 faulty or Incomplete IL becomes
just the reverse, and turns into q malignant system
Of wholesale poisoning. and 10 10 very doubtful n the
best eng aeer could build q system Of sewerage in
our level city ground that would discharge the aith
from the limits OF the town. The slope from Bere-
tania street towards the town 10 insufficient 20 6oat
the filthy matter down TO the sea without a large
H1Sahs VI NV " satasg ~ AuAt taNMt Vi
water has gone with the forests In the valley. Then
again, supposing the filth Of the whole city were
discharged by sewerage towards the sea exoepi "a
were discharged under the whArfs Of tho karbor
(not a nice place. l should judee) IL would be dis
charged within Fisherman's Point. on The Eat. and
then the prevailing southwinds would strew the
obnoxious matter all along the shore, 10 becomes
more poisonous than at present. Thus the want Of
water on account Of the destruction Of forests and
the change Of the winds prevents sewerage and be-
comes a danger 10 the health Of Honolnlu. Bat IA
you allow zoe the term there 10 IN aerial sewerage
system that might be put In immediate force with
out expense or labor. that would be at this season Of
the year Of as much benefit TO the health Of the city.
as an underground sewerage. The city Of Honolulu
is q park, q beautiful park. IL might not inapily
be called q forest. The usual trAdewinds Of former
years have left as or at least have become hw a.
angels visits, and the mild ~soutberly bFeeses are
prevented from blowing through the city not only
on account OF the ever increasing buildings and
narrow crooked streets, but more no on account %
the forest. where The branches Of the trees are Ia
general 10 low that every free circulation Of air "a
obstruoted. In fact the air OF Honolulu 10 staenant,
and what stagnant alrl Ia New Orleans where
Yellow Jack has enlightened the people about
4" stagnant Air'' at such seasons batteries Of two
guns are drawn from street 10 street and fred 10
stir the air. Shall we come 10 thisi/ .EF
We may come TO this, where the dense foliage
ineloses every pestilencial exhalation from thousands
Of ~cesspools, Ia use and covered. fron stables and
other sources and leaves no esoape TO the heaviest
and most deadly carbonie acid which daily aud
nOurly ~ sent INTO the AR OF hoDoiuiu, from every
thing dead aud ~decaying, and from everything
living, be Il animal or vegetable life while the beat
In unison rises from degree 10 degree. and when
even for q few hours . fresh trade wind dnvss
away the noxious gases towards the harbor, the
south wind drives them back again TO their prisons
Der eath the low branches Of trees that shelter
closets. II is necessary. the health Of the city de-
mands IL, that the trees throughout the CITY and
Nuuanu avenue should be trimmed up 10 certain
nights, and Ia fact this should be done not DOLLY on
account Ct hygienio considerations, but even for the
sake Of ornament and beauty. There IL not a
decent looking tree in the city or suburbs and when
an effort has been made At trimming IL invariably
has baen done In such q miserable and bungling
manner that IL is a disgrace and insult 10 nature.
Trimming the trees throughout the city would Afford
what l have termed an aerial sewerage. IL would
open q road for either trade or south wind TO sweep
through the town. the highways aud the bywaya
and stir the air. II 10 this IL added an enforced
monthly application OF dsinfectants 10 cioaets. an
occasional washing down Of the sireeis. in time Of
prolonged drought we may hope TO paes the heated
term. General Butler preaerved by enforced clean
illness the health Of New Orleans. New Orleans,
Galveston. Vera Cruz and Savannah, are famous
as unwholesome cities and unwholesome on account
Of fresh winds lacking 10 stir the air. I hope that
Honolulu will not be added 10 the list. Since the
last 6 years aud more / have played the part Of the
daughter Of Priam, but I hope shall not NEE, ,hs
fate Of Cassandrs. IA