The San Francisco call., 1898-07-14
Uncle Sam to Pay for
 improvements.
MINISTER HATCH'S OPINION
WOULD DRAW ALL COMMERCE
 FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
Nicaragua Canal Trade Diverted Direct to the Islands-White Men to Compete With
 Coolies-

L. A. Thurston. Minister of Hawaii, and F. NJ. Hatch. the present Minister, took their departure for the islands last evening on the steamer Alameda, but be- fore they left they expressed their opin- ions upon several important topics rela- tive to the annexation of the Sandwich Islands, and the future relations to this city and State.
 In their remarks they were so enthusi- astic for the future prosperity of the isl- ands that they overlooked the effect that such prosperity would have upon the city by the Golden Gate. In glowing terms Mir. Thurston pictured a magnificent coal ing station for the United States far out in the middle of the Pacific and called at- tention to what a splendid naval and mill tary outpost this little group of islands would make. "The city of Honolulu" he said, has no protection against inva- sion" And added, I've are not concern ing ourselves about this The United matter of fOrtifying the weak places that are most exposed to attack, should a hos tile power ever take a notion to pay the islands a visit"
 Would it not also be necessary to maintain a number of war vessels in those waters was asked.
 "Certainly. In the present war 1t has been learned that Qualifications without war ships are of but little service, as against a fleet of cruisers. The Govern ment will certainly have to keep number of fighting vessels at the islands. I can- not tell what the cost of erecting fortifi- cations and maintaining war ships there would be. The Government will, of course. attend to these matters. Yes, 1t will cost considerable, l will admit, but Uncle Sam Is not pauper'
 Along the same lines MT. Hatch had a few words to say. He is of the opinion that Pearl Harbor, seven miles from Hon. al, ,T 5 stations in the Pacific, after the Govern ment had widened, made deeper and strengthened out the channel. The chan nel.' he said, lis fairly straight now" He acknowledged that he has no idea what these improvements will cost, and, like MT. Thurston, he is willing to leave the detatls-and cost-of such matters to the Government.
 Both gentlemen have the belief that Honolulu has glorious future when the Nicaragua canal is complete Upon this subject MT Thurston said: With ca ble across the Pacific that city will be q place where every vessel in those waters will stop for instructions and to confer with the home offices by wire. Every snip going through the canal, either to or from Asta1ic ports, will stop at the islands for news. We expect to have one of the busiest harbors in the world. Stu- ated as We are in the middle of the ocean. We will have visit from every vessel from the eastern coast of the United States and Europe going through the Nicaragua canal, bound for Asiatic ports"
 MT Hatch agreed with these views, on which he eXpatiated in a manner showing that he expects to completely cut the port of San Francisco out of all trade coming through the transcontinental waterway the canal There are some people who argue that vessels will seek the shortest way from the canal on this side of the continent to Asia by taking in the great circle, which would lead them away to the north. This Is all nonsense. Ships destined for Asia will take to the smooth est waters. where they will have fewer storms to contend with and where they will avoid the Japan current. and this way is directly to the Sandwich Islands. Ships bound for Australia will take the same course. Yes: We have a great fu-
 Tt looks as though San Francisco would be entirely cut out of all this trade?" was suggested.
 Yes" answered Mir. Hatch, slowly, and added: But the islands will not be as a foreign country. They will be part of he United States"
 If the desires of these two gentlemen are fulfilled there will be a big exodus of farmers from the United States with money to invest in island lands soon after annexation. They wish to see as many of this class settle in the Hawaiian islands as possible. MT. Hatch suggested that they could work on the cooperative plan, raising small lots of cane, which they could sell to the factories. The cane could be raised in connection with other crops. his brought up the question of labor, and particularly contract labor, for