The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-15

Within the past few months and espe-
waiian Islands to the United States, I
have received numerous letters from peo-
quiries as to what opportunities Hawaii
offered to men in various pursuits of life,
PF0Iess1onaI, mereantlle, skilled ana un-
skilled labor / take pleasure in answer
ing these letters to the best of my under
standing, but 1t has occurred to me that
a general letter of information, going
somewhat into details, and published by
circulation, would be of some interest and
perhaps value TO my Fellow cltlzensl ana
90 lar more good than my answers 70 IN
divlduals shall try to give cold, rella-
bic facts as believe them to exist
Hawai- has climate nearly perfect
The ocean currents from the north to-
neat ana the thermometer rarely rises
above IS and seldom drops below 90 How
ever, by ascending the mountains almost
any desired climate can pc secured. As
Mark Twain puts it, TO secure climate
and climb until the mercury stops there.
The area of Hawaii is a trif1e less than
can boast the largest extinct volcano in
the world, Haleakala, and the largest 1iV-
Honolulu and Hilo are really the only
cities in the group. Other places marked
mere villages with practically no CONNER
cial advantages as yet, but, under our new
soon come to the front.
Population of Hawaii is 10000, divided
follows: HawaiianS, $1,000; Japanese,
5000: Chinese, 5000; Portuguese, 1900;
whites 1Ameeric9ns. English, GERMANS;
a few thousands of scattering nauonah-
ties. Notwithstanding the Cosmopolitan
character of the population, charity in it's
brOadest sense is practiced by all of it's
people and there is very little race feel
ing!
Constitution and laws are modelled after
those of America and in future will of
course have to conform with the federal
constitution and laws of America.
has been, and to a large extent will in the
the future continue to be, sugar. Rice,
hides, fruit and coffee follow. Coffee is
compare lively new industry, but, by rea-
son of favorable legislation, is rapidly
Government land may be acquired in
three ways:
Firstly a system of perpetual lease,
rent free, taxes being payable, certain i'm
prOvements being required, lease not as
signable, and property descending from
Second-Under a q year lease. with priv
ilege of purchase at original appraised
permanent improvements have been made.
staiIment plan, Involving a residence on
land, cultivation and Improvement there
A written application directed to com
be answered and the land act forwarded
to intending settlers.
ulation of about 30, 600, contains many sub
stantial business blocks and residences,
has a splendid government water works
system OF arteSlan water, supports three
large American and one Japanese bank
ing houses, good telephone, street lighting
ana Tre department. services, ana IS moo
ern in nearly every respect As yet it has
no uTSL class sewer system. DuIs as the
city stands on a soil of decomposed- lava
beneath which is a deep layer of black
might otherwise follow the absence of a
proper sewerage system are avoided.
is an antiquated street car system. in use
by Noah just preceding the flood and aft
syndicate called the Hawaiian Tramcar
company. limited" The original pair Of
mules that Uncle Noah had are still in
service here, and, under the franchise this
company possesses, are good for seventeen
excelled hack service tends to minimize
the mental suffering of a too patient pub
Free educational facilities similar to
those of the states, compulsory and non
and Honolulu supports kindergartens for
the little ones of all nationalites. The
ers' salaries average 5000 per year.
Taxes are about the same as in the
states. All parties engaged in selling
wares Gown manufacture excepted pay an
annual license, and all men between the
ages of 20 and GO pay personal tax of 50.
There are district and police courts with
limited jurisdiction, circuit courts CORE
spending to the district courts of Kansas,
tried nv naive turtles. a case between a
ffTed b1 foreign iuries 1write9 our
sachusetts and California. English is the
official language. A, knowledge OF, Ha7
business men, but is convenient and ad-
Hawaii has no poorhouses, paupers,
tramps. flies. few criminals, no minerals
snakes, poisonous insects or WORKOUT
scorpion. found here, is not at all serious
Mosquitoes are raised in large numbers
and are in evidence at all seasons of the
year on the leeward side of the islands,
which of course includes Honolulu. Every
one sleeps under a net. Mark Twain,
when here, said he soon discovered how
best to avoid a meeting with the mos
quitoes, and that was to get under his net,
leave a hole for the mosquitoes to get in,
stay there half an hour until they were all
inside, then jump quickly out of bed, tuck
the net in and sleep on the floor
Crime is rare. Hawaii is certainly no
place for toughs and thugs. Indeed. they
sible to get away from the islands with
out it being known After a residence of
80 days. in order to leave Hawaii one must
obtain a receipt from the tax office show
this to the custom department and get
passport. and in turn show that to the
fCers of the vessel Any vessel or owners
furnishing passage to persons without
such passport are severely dealt with.
The only railroad of any Importance is
the oahu railway on this island, and is
about 80 miles in length.
Cost of living in the islands will aver
of living in Kansas. Rents are perhaps
50 per cent higher. Also, all services and
labor receive better pay On general
average the labor below enumerated re-
ceives the following pay:
On Observation-Disclosures $50; sugar
boilers, $50; blacksmiths, SIS; carpenters,
GERS, $l25; under overseers, $50; teamsters,
BricIzlayers receive SIS. carpenters 81 ma
ch1nlsts 81, painters 81 per day. Nine hours
is a working day. The above figures de-
pend very much on the man: if extra good
he will command more than the prices
stated above: if poor, he cannot get as
much as is here stated.
Stenographers, clerks, etc, viii average