The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-11-11
TT SMELLS TO HEAVEN"
ESPECIALLY AFTER A BIG
transform.
The Old Fish Market in Wet Weather
Public Opinion in Favor
Of Its Removal.

Hawaii has been aptly termed the
Paradise of the Pacific, and the city Of
Honolulu is acknowledged by everyone
who has visited it to be one Of the
most beautiful towns in the world
Bot there is one foul blot on its surface
that goes far to Offset the otherwise
pleasant impression formed Refer
ence, as a matter Of course, is made to
the old fish market, a visit to which
was made this morning by a STAR
represent alive. To reach the market
after a rainstorm one has to wade
through mud ankle deep-and it is
probably less deep in the middle of the
streets than elsewhere-ior there are
no sidewalks, cutters or street improve
ments of any kind, and when it is
reached the effluvium arising, not only
from the market itself, but the streets
in the vicinity, is enough to knock a
mule down, let alone civilized human
being, the streets being common re-
ceptacle for offal and decaying vegeta-
ton of all kinds. Once in the market
the smell is SO powerful tina; one
is impressed solely with one idea,
and that is to get out again
as quickly as possible, as a matter of
self preservation. OF all the loathsome,
foul-smellng and generally unhealthful
places it has ever been the lot of this
scribe to be detailed to investigate, the
Honolulu fshmarket is about the worst.
There is such a total absence of SAM.
tayy arrangements of the primest neces-
sity and general uncleanliness and
air of filth about the market that it is
no wonder that decent people will not
venture near it, The whole place is a
shame and disgrace to any COM
munity, especially to one with the pre-
tensions of Honolulu, and it should be
utterly wiped off the face of the earth
as pestilence breeding nuisance. No
Grand Jury in the United States would
permit its existence day longer than
was legally required to abolish it. 1t is
true there is plenty of water near by,
but it is also true that very little of it is
used. Let the reader 60 and look at
the filthy condition Of the wooden slabs
used to display fish and meat on before
he disputes this assertion. The requi
sites of common cleanliness in the
handling and preparing of food are dis
pensed with by the Chinese and native
proprietors of stalls as entirely unneces.
sary. A proper inspector, with power
to enforce sanitary regulations and as
much cleanliness as possible is neces-
sity at the market 1t may be there is
such person, but if there is he
negects his duties.
There is much inquiry about town as
to the intentions of the government
with regard to the new market and how
much longer the community is to be
kept waiting for its opening. The
reporter has talked with many persons
on this matter, several even to day, and
the general opinion seems to be that
the new market should be finished up
at once. One gentleman who was in
terviewed on the subject was loud In his
denunciation of the governmental for what
he termed ''its singular negligence" in
regard to the market. Another said
that the government was losing money
every day it allowed the old market to
remain This being a new phase of
the question he was asked in what way
"Why," he said, "the new building
can be put in shape to use, even accor-
ding to the original plan of cement
floor and elaborate sewerage and water
connections for about $40, 900. know
the estimate was $780, 900 but that was
under the monarchy. If the work is
let by contract now, while business is
dull it can be done for half that. Again,
if the government cannot afford to do
the whole Of the work, let it do half of
it. That will afford twice as much
room as in the old market and the in
creased number and rental of stalls will
repay that expense in two years or less.
Still another and cheaper plan would be
to use asphalt instead Of cement for
the floor. This would reduce the cost
very materially. But the cheapest
plan of all, if economy is to be the
main consideration, would be to use
wood. have had some experience in
wood work, and have figured that a
wooden floor of threeinch pine plank
ing, laid i'll the same way as the deck
of ship and thoroughly pitched and
caulked, could be laid for about $1,000.
The removal of the fish market to the
new site would materially advance the
value of the Government land in its
vicinity and would create a demand for
it for building purposes. The Govern
ment owns most of the land near the
new site, as well as all that recently
filled in by the dredger. Should the
market be moved all of this land would
be required for building purposes at
once, to accommodate those having
business in it. am satisfied the Gov.
eminent would realize more than the
cost of the completion of the building
even at the old extravagant estimates
from the increased value of its land.
Another courca of reyeDue would ha IL