The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-11-07

were almost diphtheretic in their
nature. Certainly, diphtheria is al
most as much dreaded as is cholera
/ For years DR.. Stangenwald has held
| that this stream was dangerous TO the
/ health of the neighhorhOod, and that
1t was the source of all the malaria
which has appeared in this locality.
The late J. I. WaterhOuse, Esq q,
took great pains to make the stream
safe by cementing its bed and sides
through his grounds, but, in spite of
his efforts, it never could be made
tight enough TO prevent seepage
which kept the ground under and
back of his house in a swampy cOndi-
tlon, causing muSty and unwhOle
some OdOr.
Mr.. Waterhouse died of malarial
fever, and soon after moving into the
same house Mrs. Henry Waterhouse
suffered an attack also, and other
members of the family have suffered
more or less from the same cause.
Six cen years ago there was an epi-
demic of typhoid malaria in Honolulu.
At that time along the course of the
stream, from the Mist place to the
premises HOW owned by Mrs L. r.
Foster, l can recall at least thirteen
cases, five of which proved fatal.
Even then this irrigating ditch was
named as cause of the trouble.
We have the same right held by all
other land owners along the course of
the ditch for irrigating. l have gone
to no little expense and inconvenience
TO close the stream, but have done ii
cheerfully, feeling that it was wise
measure. To reopen it, however,
would be not only an additional eX-
pense but a menace to the public
health, and while we might not be in
any Immediate danger from cholera,
we might learn to our sorrow that
cholera is not the only epidemic to be
dreaded. Furthermore, while the
stream has been in a way a convent
ence 10 us, it has also been an injury
to my property, as more than once it
has stood in the way of our finding
tenants for our cottages.
/ cannot discover that at this time
any one depends upon this stream for
irrigating, with the exception of Judge
Judd and Mrs. L. r. Foster | under
stand also that Judge Judd is quite
willing to make other arrangements.
am in receipt of yours of October
26th informing me that the ditch or
dered closed by the Board of Health
may be reOpened, provided | will
and cesspools and drains.
In reply, | would beg to say that |
was ordered TO fill up this ditch, being
assured that it would not be reOpened,
and have done so at large expense to
myself, having filled in part and de-
StrOyed q cemented ditch, which was
put down only last year at an expense
of S150, besides building a new cess
pool at a cost of over 5000, to take the
connections formerly running into the
ditch lately closed.
In my opinion it would be danger
Gus to the health of the people living
along the line of the old ditch to have
it reOpened, for the reason that often
there is but little water flowing
through it, and at such times man
goes, bananas and leaves from trees
along the ditch fall in and remain
there to rot, there not being sufficient
water to carry them off; then the
ditch leaks in many places, and in my
own lot [ have expended considerable
money to stop the leaks, but without
avail, and the seepage keeps the land
adjoining wet continually, besides
forming pools Of StdgnU1at aOdter that
must breed disease, thereby making
it very unhealthy, besides being in
furious to the land, over which the
ditch has no claim whatever.
| most earnestly protest against
reOpening this ditch, and hope the
Board will make a most careful in
vestigation before allowing same to be
reOpened.