CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1898-09-15
COLORADO ENGINEER CORPS,


In Mid-Pactflc.
Headquarters U. S. Engineers,
Camp Mckinley.
| Honolulu, H. l., Aug. 26, 1898.
| EDITOR REcoRD:-Rash in my prom
ises of correspondence with friends in
Canon City, far beyond the possibility
of fulflment, will keep good my OBJ
legation to you, trusting l may wing
several birds with this one shaft Of
effort.
| To go over the details Of my short
stay in camp at San Francisco would
be lacking in interest to any reader.
1t was dreary period of the most
horrible weather humanity can be
called upon to endure. The monotony
was occasionally relieved by the firing
of the customary salute over the
grave of some poor soldier who gave
his life a sacrifice to his country
without the honor of falling in the
face of an enemy. The death rate at
Camp Merritt was almost five daily.
All possible praise is due the ladies
of San Francisco for their noble work
in caring for the troops, but no con-
demnation can be too severe for those
who misrepresented to the govern
ment officials the availability of Camp
Merritt for the accommodation of
troops.
| Our trip to Honolulu on board the
steamer Lakme was uneyentful, the
accommodations for the men were
roomy and the ventilation ample.
The Pacific did not belle its title, az
we had practically no rough weather.
Considerable seasickness was expert
enced among the men, though of a
mild form.
Honolulu was reached Wednesday,
August 18th, and the troops were
marched in heavy order through the
tropical sun to camp, five miles from
the steamer dock. Our temporary
quarters are at Waikiki Beach, justly
celebrated as the finest bathing beach
in the world. 1t is great luxury for
both officers and men and can be In
dulged in every day in the year. As
to Honolulu proper. no description
within the scope Of my limited powers
can adequately portray its beauty.
Tho bathed in the scorching rays Of
a tropic sun the Northeast trade
winds temper the heat to q degree
that makes the climate the most de-
lightful have ever experienced, and
it can be called perfection without a
hint at exaggeration. The city and
surroundings is one magnificent park,
every street boulevard and almost
every building thing of architectu-
raj beauty. Horse cars run every
where and each line presents new
features.
| The Palace, government buildings,
Bishops Museum, Horticultural Gar
dens, several public squares and the
Hawaiian hotel would put to shame
similar points of interest in the larger
cities in the States. 1t is to be hoped
that the United States Commissioners
will recommend a territorial form Of
government similar to the one in ex-
istence under President Dole. Boodle-
ism is unknown in the political ma
chinery of the Islands, and the reve-
nues collected being largely in excess
of the expenditures the surplus is
Ijudiciously expended in public i'm
provements.
The general impressions prevalent
in the States regarding leprosy and
unhealthful conditions Of the Islands
are grossly exaggerated. This re-
port has eminated from the mission
AIRY party, for what purpose no one
can conceive. This party, fortunately
for the peace and prosperity of Ha-
waii, is rapidly passing from all influ-
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