The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-11

been given - the public in a special
publication by the bureau c. siatistics.
IT consists OF a series OF statements rel
ativs 20 the people Of the isiands, their
nuInber, nativity, occupations. preduo-
t'ons. expectations. .)ur chasss from
other parts Of the world. the share
which the United States has IN their
Commerce, the methods Of raising rev.
enue and the amount annually collect
ed and disbursed. the Indebtedness.
currency. postal system. railroads and
shipping, freight and passenger rates
TO and from the United States. wages
paid IN various employments, and
prices of provisions and other neces-
saries OF life. A part of this informa-
ton Is in the form of statistical state
mcnts Of the commerce of the Islands
during long period of years, a portion
from the Hawaiian year book and other
publications of that character, and
a part from late report to the state
department by Consul General Hay
wood, and which. taken together, pres
ont the latest and most complete state
ment of the conditions and business
prospects in our new territory that has
been given to the public.
. AN IMPORTING COLONY.
Hawai-, It is shown by this state
rent, az present imports almost every
thing she Uses, aside, OF course, from
sugar, coffee and fruits. attention hav-
ing been almost exclusively given to
the raising of sugar, all of which, aside
from that consumed in the islands, is
exported 10 the United States. Indeed.
the United States in 1896 took % per
of he of tho icIn nda
and supplied 1927 per cent. of all i'm
ports, and Consul General Haywood, i'm
his report, expresses the opinion that
IN case of annexation over 95 per cent.
of the imports into the islands would
be the growth, product or manufacture
OF the United states, ana adds that II
the American tariff were in force in
the islands about $1,000 worth of i'm
ports which now enter free of duty, and
are bought in countries other than the
United States. would be bought from
this country, the free Importation of
fertilizers and coal alone in 1896
amounting to s466,319,
COSTS OF TRAVEL.
The opportunities for travel between
the United States and Hawaii are de-
scribed by Consul General Haywood,
who says that the bulk of the steam
passenger and freight traffic between
San Francisco and Honolulu is control
led by the Oceanic Steamship company.
their rates being s75 cabin passage and
s25 sterrage, though number of fine
sailing vessels which make their regu-
lar trips between Port Townsend and
San Francisco and Honolulu with limit
ed passenger accommodations 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 steerage. S. per
ton and 5 per cent primage: by sailing
vessels, 81 per ton and per cent. pri-
mage, while the rates to Atlantic ports
are from S. to 81 per ton, with 5 per
cent rrimage, and the duration of the
voyage between Honolulu and New
York from SO to 134 days. On the
islands there are three railroads, which
however, are used principally In carry
ing the products of the plantations to
the various points of shipment. and
aggregate about 20 miles in length.
CURRENCY.
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 circula-
tion and passes al par. The Hawaiian
money is paper, the paper being Sc
cured by silver held in reserve. Banks
keep two accounts with their deposit
ors, silver and gold, and checks are so
worded that the depositor may specify
the account from which the check is to
be paid, though in case the check does
not state in what currency it is to be
paid, the law provides that the holder
may demand gold if the amount is
over so. The Hawaiian silver money
amounts to s. 900. 900. of which $500, 600
is held by the government to secure
like amount of paper The total money
in circulation is estimated at So, 500, 900.
The rate OF exchange is Ia per cent.
on eastern cities of the United States
and l per cent. on the Pacific coast.
Gold is at a premium q l per cent
The annual internal taxes average So
as per capita, the total revenue from
all sources $2,2SS.O7O lin 1S96). expend-
itures 1913, 103 and the public debt S4.-
10l,l74 bearing interest at and per
cent. Commercial travellers are, under
the laws now in force, required to take
bul d llCtnse COStlnS dt honolulu Tor
the island upon which IT is located $3.50
and on each of the other islands 1855.
WAGES Low.
The statement is not such as TO en-
courage those desiring "a seek employ
ment in Hawaii. The market for all
kinds of labor. it says, IS overstocked.
and It would be very unwise. in the
opinion Of the consul general, for any
one to visit the islands with no capital
on the mere chance of obtaining EN-
ploymert, many OF those who have so
arrived being compelled TO return dis
appointed. Wages on the plantations,
including house and frcwood or room
and board, range from sl25 TO SITS PEI
month for engineers ard sugar boil
egs, $50 to 500 per month for black
smiths and carpenters, $40 to SIS per
month for locomotive drivers, 500 10
siI5 per month for bookkcepers, $50 to
$40 per month Tor teamsters. In Homo
lulu the rates are 50 to SO per day for
bricklayers and uasons. $3.50 To S. per
day Tor carpenters and painters and s.
10 50 per day fer machinsts. Cooks
receive from So to 81 per week. nurses
house-servants and gardeners So t. $IS
per month, Retail prices Of provisions
are as follows: Hams. l6 to 80 cents
per pound; bacon, lG to 20 cents: -four
$3.50 to 50 per 100 pounds; rice, $325 to
Sc per 100 pounds; butter. 25 to 30 cents
per pound, eggs, 20 to 80 cents pei
dozen. and Ice. lh cents per pound.
PRODUCTS.
Cautiously the productions OF tho