The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-07-28

JULY 2S. 1S96.-SEMI-WEE
the fuel used here is soke. Everything
offensive is consumed, so that no odor
Over six thousand bodies were ere
mated in Toxic and over 5000 at this
crematory last year. There are sew
eral other similar institutions in other
parts of the city.
The c1emating which we witnessed
was performed in the day time by
special order.
All dead bodies are not burned in |
Toxic, or in Japan; but it is practiced |
to large extent. All bodies of per-
sons dying of infectious and contagious |
disease are cremated when practicable. |
The crematories at the quarantine sta
lions are of simple construction and
not very expensive
The charge for cremating in the city
varies with the station in life of the
deceased. and the wishes of the rela-
tives. At the crematory we visited the
highest charge is $3.50, the lowest rs
cents.
KUSATSU SPRINGS.
mountains, which are SO famous in
Japan for the treatment of leprosy,
syphilitic, skin and other diseases,
were visited by DIR. Wood and DR..
Eldridge. l was detained in Toxic by
official appointments and could not
accomp; ny them.
DR.. Wood will report upon the
matter.
FISH MARKET, TOXIC.
While in Toxic we inspected the gen.
eral fish market of this great city.
While we learned but little from it
of practical utility, there was one feat
ure which might be adopted to advan-
tage at Honolulu, that is the preserving
alive of many of the fish in containers
of water-thus preserving the fish
longer and assuring the purchaser of
its freshness.
But the extent of the market and the
number and varieties of fish was mar
vellous. Fish of every variety, form
and color seemed to be there. From
creatures that resembled centipedes
and creeping things to immense fish
ten feet long and eighteen inches thick;
from the most delicately formed and
tinted, to great horny monsters-every
form and kind.
The market is located near one of
the great canals that intersect the city,
and extends through streets and cross
street until one becomes tired in fol-
| lowing them.
PRISONS.
The city prison and the new general
| prison were of great interest.
| In Japan the Police and Health De-
partments are very intimately associ-
ated, and the system of sanitary in
spection is admirable. The system
has been improved since the cholerS
epidemics of late years, and now it is
claimed that general epidemic could
hardly occur.
At Police headquarters the applian
ces and conveniences are very com
plete even to a chemical laboratory fol
| testing milk ana 1000.
The system of registering prisoners
the management of the great work
shops, where in six large two-storie(
brick buildings 1900 prisoners arr
working at more than twenty-five
branches of work-from making buck
cts and shoes to the finest inlaid bronz,
work-and the discipline maintained
| ath or ra1 LOT ty1s
to the prisons and police, will be o
greater interest to the Marshal am
his department.
WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS OF
HONGKONG.
Learning that the water supplied Il
the city of Hongkong was filtered, w
obtained permission to examine thu
works. In company with DR.. Jordan
and the Superintendent we visited tn
filtering tanks and saw and had eX
planned to us the whole process. Their
are a number of cemented reservoir
about five feet deep, separated by di
vision walls, in which layers of grave
and sand are placed. The water is ad
mitted to the depth of two or tire
feet and filters through the beds O
sand and gravel and is discharged au
: tomatically through a gate into tn
: pipe which carries it to a storag
reservoir
As the surface of the upper layer
of altering material become covere
with deposit from the water the tank
are cleaned successfully by running tn
water off and removing the deposi
with shovels. The filtration wa
very complete, but it seemed to m
that the process involved considerabl
. labor and expense.
The Superintendent had just com
pleted his annual report and kindl
promised to forward copy. Thi
report will give full details of plaI
cost, etc.
We also examined the system of rails
ing water to the higher levels by mean
y of hydraulic pumps.
Hongkong lies at the foot, and u
! the side, of steep hill or mountai
: called ''the Peak" besides some fin
. residences along the summit B
means of the pumps the water is raise
n to 500 foot level, and to the Peak at a
elevation of 1850 feet The chief co.
: of such works is the first cost, for tn