Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-11-23
HONOLULU and HAW All
An Interesting Letter from Ed. Fraser
Now Located in Honolulu,
Hawaiian Islands.
He Writes Of His Impressions Of the
Country, and How Affairs
Are Conducted.
An Entertaining Description Of Do.
ings in the Realms Of the
Ex-Queen.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. Nov. 10. 1894

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, Nov. 10, 1894.
ED. TRIBUNE:-I presume, to the aver.
age American reader, this small corner
OF the world seems a remote, vague sort
OF a place, rather revolutionary, just a
little outside the pale of higher civiliza-
ton, and rich only in the Tropican's
idea OF natures plenty-a satisfactory
country, perhaps, for an energetic man
to keep away from. Investigation, how
ever, provides a surprise for most people,
and the title applied to the islands
3'The Paradise of the Pacifc"-takes on
a pleasant Significance.
The islands lie between 10 and % &C.
Rrees, north latitude, in a line almost
directly west from the City Of Mexico.
Siberian currents and the northeast
trade winds temper the climate at the
sea level to the perfection of an Ameri-
can summer, while the mountain slopes
present a cooler atmosphere, terminating
IN perpetual frost. The thermometer, at
sea level, rarely reaches above SO degrees
and rarely falls below 68. Sunstroke is
a thing unknown, and the nights are
similar to those Of a Dakota October. /
was talking to an old rancher who has
cattle in the uplands, and he told me
that an old buffalo skin o%vercoat was the
most satisfactory article of clothing he
owned.
The islands are eight in number, two
of them being uninhabited and unim-
portant. Hawaii is the largest, and is
rs by 100 miles in extent, ranging with
Oahu in population. The latter island
is the site of Honolulu.
On Hawaii the land rises gradually
from the sea to the summit of Mauna-
Loa-a height of 1896 feet-the climate
being very nearly the same during the
entire year.
On the coast are the sugar-cane fields,
covering hundreds of miles, and which
represent investments of nearly forty
million dollars. The largest plantation
on the islands is controlled by Spreckles
Bros, and employs 2,100 men. The com
pany owns 10000 acres of cane land,
10000 acres beng kept under constant
cultivation. A portable track railroad
is used for carrying, and the mill has a
capacity of 100 tons of sugar a day.
Sugar is king, although the production
of coffee promises to become an impor-
tant industry.
At the same level are tropical plants
of all klnds-the c%ocoanut, orange, ba-
mana, lemon, fig, bread fruit and count
less smaller fruits OF q tropical nature
abounding. Strawberries and water
melons are in market every day in the
year. On the higher levels are the veg
etables Of the temperate zone-potatoes
in particular, and some wheat. Cattle
ranges, also, produce an excellent grade
OF beef. OF such cereals as wheat, rice.
etc.. five crops in two years are generally
figured On. Sugar, rice, potatoes and
bananas are the principal exports.
The population of the islands is not
above 10000, one-third being natives;
Americans, English and Germans repre-
sent one-tenth, and the Portuguese and
Orientals make up the remainder.
The native is a picturesque character,
possessing numerous good qualities and
q considerable degree of intelligence. AS
9 rule they are large and we'll formed,
and passionately fond of horses, fancy
clothes, music and flowers. A band of
flowers about the hats of the men and a
wreath of "lei" of the same about the
women are a necessary part Of the cos
tune. They are generally im~provident,
and would suffer in any but a land of
plenty.
The Chinese follow the customs Of the
whites to a great extent in the line of
business, and have taken up almost every
conceivable calling in their small way.
1t is said that this is the only country
where the Chinese settle to make a per-
manent home, and, as q rule, they are
far superior to their brethren of the
larger American cities. They have a
monopoly of the market gardening, and
are adopts at the business.
Honolulu is q very modern, up.to-date
city Of 25,000 inhabitants, containing
much wealth and great enterprise. The
9 government is firmly fixed, and is
essentially American in it's character.
The only opposition offered is by the
resident Britons, and that is chiefly char
acterized by it's sullen inefeotiveness.
The stores and shops are well stocked
with goods from America, Europe and
the Orient. There is direct communica-
tion with the latter places, and, as the
import duties average only 10 per cent,
the English and German manufactured
goods and Chinese silks, willow ware,
etc. are very cheap.
There are thirty miles of street rail
way, and the granting Of a franchise for
an electric road is being considered. The
telephone and hack systems are very per.