The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-04-07
CITY OF The DEAD
Such a Name Might be
Given to Honolulu.
The Cemetery Question Again-Fire
and Brimstone-Advan
Of a Crematory.

| EDITOR P. c. A.-Put the new Gem
letery within Punchbowl, and before
long Honolulu would be known the
wide world over as the City of the
Dead a soubriquet which might tend
to lessen its interest to travellers rath-
er than increase its value as the Par
adise of the Pacific"
The prospective use Of Punchbowl
as above, viewed in the light of its
once having been a yowling, raging
| furnace, it seems TO me, should pro-
woke an interest in crematories instead
| of cemeteries. 1t appears somewhat of
| a travesty to utilize the crater of a
| former volcano for the modern pur-
poses of a burial ground, and ought to
arouse the strong opposition of those
whose religious feelings cause them to
| look with horror upon the future pos
| sibility of associating with fire and
birthstone. 1t is a gruesome subject at
best, but when the health of a COM
munity is at stake, and future con-
tingencies for increased mortality are
concerned, a newspaper discussion of
the subject is the best medium for the
people to communicate their views for
the benefit Of the authorities having
the matter in hand. And furthermore,
in view of the fact that sugar planta-
ton promoters are ever reaching out
for new lands, the authorities should
consider that within very short time
there will be very little land left avail
able for more sugar plantations for the
enterprising and money-making pro-
motors; therefore, the more reason why
no cemetery should be established, but
"a crematorium instead.
Every large city has had it's day for
the discussion of cemeteries and the
grave problem of disposing of the dead,
so that the health OF those who are
compelled to live nearby may not be
menaced, and in nearly every instance
it has resulted in the establishment of
la crematory. The success of this
movement has far exceeded the eX-
pectatiOnS of the most Skeptical, and
even those who were antagOniStic to
the movement by reason Of certain re-
ligiOus qualms are beginning to look
with favor upon the matter. The large
cities in extending their boundaries,
have often taken within their con-
| fines cemetery after cemetery, which
soon become encOmpaSSeQ ABOUT by the
lhabitations of the living, forcing the
cemetery authorities to move the bur-
| ial site further away from the city; a
suburb springs up and again the GEM
etery site is closed in by new habita-
tons, and SO It Will always be. The
philosophic minded have accepted the
inevitable and the opposition to dis
posing of tee dead y cremation is de-
| acin nv
| If the Cremdtorium could be estab-
liSned, maintained and favored in a
certain city in the very center of the
Papal dominions, in Italy, fostered, and
| the idea promulgated abroad until ere
matories sprung up through that do
miniCn, and all done under the secular
| guidance of a religious organization
which pays so much tribute and holy
attention to the dead. why cannot such
| a spirit OF advanced philosophy and
health principle lie advocated for this
| island group with its liberal minded
| population, where, above all localities,
| by reason Of its peculiar geographical
| limitations and climatic conditions.
| such contamination should not be far
distant.
A. d. BROWNVILLE.
| Honolulu, April 9Th, 1899.