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

though the question resolved itself
into two branches, it dealt more
purely with the sanitary.
L. A. Thurston believed the nat
ural course of the stream was as at
present run. He could not see any
advantage to be gained by the plan
proposed.
President Smith: Your idea is,
then, to leave it as it is?"
L. a. Thurston: Eyes, sir"
DR.. Day, in speaking of the dis
ease germs, said there was not
much difference in the density of
the water in the different parts of
the harbor. The danger was along
the waters edge. If the water OF
the harbor could be kept clean,
there would not be very much
question of checking the disease.
This could not be sure with a con.
taminated waters edge. He doubt
ed the feasibility of DETECTING the
course of the stream. The current
would be toward Iwilei. If the
east side was blocked up, whatever
flowed from the stream would go to
the west.
DR.. Emerson thought if the plan
to defect the stream was carried
out there would be many regrets in
the future. The shoal water at
Iwilei would be infected.
L. A. Thurston suggested that
the steam dredge be set to work
dredging out the stream as far up
as the King street bridge. There
would then be salt water all the
way up.
DR.. Wood thought very much the
same as Mr.. Thurston. Water
from the stream-if it was to flow
into the harbor at all, should do so
abruptly. Dredging operations
could be effected as suggested by
Mr.. Thurston. This method would
do away with the fishing which is
carried on by the natives at low
tide. The sanitary condition of the
city would be very much improved.
J. A. McCandless conceded with
DR.. Wood in the matter of having
the water of the stream flow imme-
diately into deep salt water. It was
dangerous to defect it towards
Iwilei.
E. G. Macfarlane was of the
opinion that the Board should con-
fine itself to the consideration of
the sanitary phase of the subject.
Separate the contaminated part
and keep the harbor clean. If the
water of the bay becomes polluted,
the question will be a very serious
one. If the water of the stream is
polluted, why not confine the pollu-
ton to that alone, instead of let
ting it out into the bay
DR.. Wood spoke Of the danger of
the stream near its mouth. There
it becomes sluggish, and if there is
any contamination it is bound to
communicate itself to the water
close at hand. The slow flow faci-
litates mixture with salt water.
President Smith suggested that
another matter be taken up. The
work of the Citizens Committee
has been one of great value. Fewer
cases were apparent. He thought
he voiced the opinion of the Board
when he said that the good work
must 60 on for some time. 1t
might be a matter of several weeks.
There was liable to be a reaction
at any time. Honolulu was not
out of the woods by any means.
There was always a reaction after
a severe strain, such as the cholera
epidemic had been. If there were
no cases for several days, it was
very probable the community
would be lulled into a false secur-
ity. 1t should be impressed upon
the committee that there should be
no relaxation of vigilance. It was
necessary to eradicate the disease
and guard against the future.
DR.. Wood said the conditions for
the disease on the islands were
very favorable. The cold winters
of the States did not exist. 1t was
possible there might be lull for
while. If there was a relaxation
of vigilance a fresh epidemic might
spring upon the city very sudden
ly, and all the unpleasant expert
ences of the past would have to be
gone through again. A great many
persons had said that the present
disease was not cholera, because it
had not taken more hold. This
idea simply showed ignorance of
the conditions. Former history Of
cholera developed the fact that the
water supply is the source of
contamination from which the
greater part of the disease springs.
The Hamburg case was cited as
an example. A number of Rus
slams had camped on stream and
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