Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-07-15
OFF AND ON AGAIN.
North Dakota Boys Have Probably
Reached Honolulu and Sailed
Away for Manila Again.
Were Still on American Soil When
they Reached Hawaii Although
Not Knowing 1t.
Our New Possessions.

- W
several days, and started again for their
longer journey to Manila. While the
boys did not know it, yet it is a fact
that when they stopped at Hawaii they
were still on American soil. the island
having been annexed before their ar
rival, although the news will not arrive
there for several days, owing to the fact
that there is no cable, and the news has
to be transmitted by steamer.
Ed. Fraser, a brother of Doc. Walter
Fraser, writes the latter that when the
first expedition of $500 troops was at
Honolulu, where Ed. is in business,
there was not a disorderly man in the
crowd, although every thing in the city
was free. The people threw open all kinds
of business places and invited the boys
to help themselves. Even on the street
cars the boys were carried free where
ever they wanted to go. Ed. says that
the relic seekers, especially the fair sex,
were numerous, and the boys uniforms
were almost stripped Of the brass
buttons which were wanted as memen-
toes, and in some cases even, pieces of
blue cloth were cut out of the uniforms
for the Honolulu bellies. Everyone in
Honolulu was anXiously awaiting the
annexation of the islands which was ex-
pected at any time, and all had their
American flags ready to hoist as soon
as the news was received.
a recent report of the bureau of sta
t~istics gives some interesting facts rela-
tive to the islands, which will be of es-
pecial interest now. Hawaii, it is shown
by this statement, at present imports
almost everything she uses, aside, of
course, from sugar, coffee and fruits,
attention having been almost exclusively
given to the raising Of sugar,a all Of which,
aside from that consumed in the island,
is exported to the United States. In
deed, the United States in 1896 took
1904 per cent Of the entire exports of
the islands and supplied 1927 per cent
of all imports, and Consul General
Haywood, in his report expresses the
opinion that in case Of annexation over
50 per cent of the imports into the
islands would be the growth, product of
manufacture Of the United States, and
adds that if the American tariff were in
force in the islands about $500, 900 worth
OF imports which now enter free of duty
.lra ho1rht ~ fro,, co,,,,f,:oo o&l,o~ ll..
the United states, would be bought from
this country, the free importation of
fertilizers and coal alone in 1896 amount
ing to s466,319.
The opportunities to travel between
the United States and Hawaii are des-
cribed by Consul General Haywood,
who says that the bulk of steam passen-
ger and freight traffic between San
Frncisco and Honolulu is controlled by
the Oceanic Steamship Company, their
rater being SIS cabin passage and 1925
Storage, though a number of fine sail
ing vessels, which make regular trips
between Port Townsend and San Fran.
cisco and Honolulu with limited passen-
ger accommodation, charge $40 for cabin
passage. The time for passage between
San Francisco and Honolulu by steamer
is from six to seven days. Freight rates
from San Francisco are: By steamer,
s. per ton and S per cent primage; by
sailing vessels, So per ton and 5 per cent
primage, while the rates to Atlantic
ports are from IS to 81 per ton, with S
per cent primage, and the duration of
the voyage between Honolulu and New
York from eighty-nine to 1874 days. On
the islands there are three railroads.
which, however, are used principally in
carrying the products of the plantations
to the various points of shipment and
aggregate about seventy miles in length.
The currency of the islands is of the
same unit of value as that of the United
States. The gold is all of American
mintage, and United States silver and
paper money is in circulation and pas
ses at par. The Hawaiian money is pa
per, the paper being secured by silver
held in reserve. Banks keep two &C.
counts with their depositors, silver and
gold, and checks are so worded that the
depositor may specify the account from
which the check is to be paid but the law
provides that the holder may demand
gold if the amount is over $40. The
Hawaiian silver money amounts to ST..
100000, of which 100000 is held by
the government to secure a like amount
in paper. The total money in %circula-
tion is estimated at $780, 600. The rate
of exchange is one and one fourth per
cent on eastern cities of the United
States, and one per cent on the Pacific
coast. Gold is at a premium of one per
cent. The annual internal taxes aver
age S6.48 per capita, the total revenue
from all sources s2,283,O7O Tin 1856, ex.
penditures 1921 LOB, and the public
debt ST. 01 ia, bearing interest at S