The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-09-13

fecting plant were nearly COM
pleted. a plant for distinction OF
cargoes from foreign ports was one
of the most urgent needs of the
city. If freight from Japan could
be brought into the city in an alb
solutely harmless condition, every
thing should be pushed to attain
that result. He thought it a mat
ter of great difficulty to handle
properly the great amount OF
freight which would be brought on
steamers from Japanese ports. 1t
had been suggested by A. q. NJ.
Robertson that these steamers
come and remain In port for such a
length of time consistent with the
complete and thorough disinfec-
ton of the freight.
President Smith said, in view of
the fact that the water Of the city
had been considered infected, the
committee on quarantine had made
investigation into the matter and
had a verbal report to present. 1t
had been suggested to make ar
engagements to prevent the water
from Nuuanu stream flowing into
the harbor.
DR.. Day, as a member of the
quarantine committee, said he had
visited the grounds in the vicinity
of the stream near its mouth yes
terday. Mud sewage and all kinds
of filth had been emptied into the
harbor. Nuuanu stream was a
source of danger whenever an cpl
demic would arise, the contagion of
which is due to water. In regard
TO the nature of the present conta-
gion, Pettenhofer had at one time
signified his contempt of the
cholera by swallowing water
which was infected with the
germs of the disease. He
asserted that certain soil conditions
were necessary to the development
Of the germs. DR.. Day thought
Honolulu was a very favorable spot
for the cholera. If the harbor
could be kept clean, it should be
done at any price. 1t could be
protected by DETECTING the present
course of the stream. 1t had been
proposed to build a retaining wall
along from a position near the old
fishmarket to another near the rail-
road wharf, for the purpose of turn
ing the water of Nuuanu stream
over on to the fats near Iwilei. The
water could in this manner be dis
tributed over a large area of shall
low water. A lot of valuable land
would thus be left to the eastward.
The committee thought such i'm
provement should be carried out in
order to better the sanitary condi-
ton of the city.
I DIR. Day, in referring to the dis
infection of Nuuanu stream, said
that 81 tons of acid sulphate of
soda had been emptied into the
stream at different points. After
sufficient time had been given for
the dissemination of the disinfect-
ant, tests were made to ascertain
the amount of acid at different
points. At King street bridge not
enough acid was found to turn
litmus paper. Farther up the
stream there was a sufficient
amount to kill the fish and crabs.
l.. A. Thurston said he did not
wish to differ from the findings of
the committee as suggested by DR..
Day. He had given a great deal of
attention to the matter himself, and
was prepared to make a few re-
marks on the subject. There were
two distinct branches to the report
of the committee, the sanitary and
the engineering. In regard to the
first, he could not see what the
matter of a few hundred yards diff
ference In the emptying place of
Nuuanu stream would benefit.
What was there to prevent infec-
ton just as before2 There would
be more danger from the stream by
having it detected in the manner
proposed by the committee than in
allowing 1t to remain as at present.
A great many persons were in. the
habit of fishing in the Iwilei dis
trict, over which it was proposed to
let the water from Nuuanu stream
flow. Formerly quantities of fish
and shrimps were sent to the fish
market from that place. 1t would
be the same in the future, and to
allow such water as flowed from
Nuuanu stream to 60 to that place
would be absolutely dangerous. In
regard to the engineering part of
the plan, Mr.. Kluegel, a gentleman
we'll versed in engineering subjects,
was of the opinion that water could
hardly be made to run over the
course proposed on account of the
bottom OF the stream being so low.
DR.. Emerson had been with tie