The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-04-18
CEMETERY OR CRENATORY
COMMITTEE MEETS UPON THESE
SUBJECTS.
Expert Opinions Leave the Cemetery
Project just Where II Was Before.
For Crematory.

\ meeting was held in the Safe De-
post office yesterday of members of
the Board of Health and of the Gene
terry Association on the proposed new
cemetery and the hospital for incur
ables. Present were: President Dole,
chairman; DIR. n. b. Emerson, l.. d.
Keliipio, and secretary Wilcox. of the
Board of Health; II. NJ. Won Holt, Da-
vid Dayton, \. S. Cleghorn. and f. A.
Schaefer of the Cemetery Associa-
| ton.
President Dole stated the objection
of DR.. Maxwell to the Punchbowl and
Diamond Head neighborhoods. In
general it was that cemeteries in
Honolulu should not be located above
the water supply. The conversation
becoming informal, it drifted into the
subject of Kahauiki as a suitable site,
and finally to the subject of a crema-
tory. DR.. Emerson, President Dole
and others spoke i'm favor of the ere
matory. At the same time some
thought there should be ample Gene
terry room, as crematory disposition
of bodies could not be made obliga-
| tory.
The first report read was that of the
cemetery committee on sites at Kahau-
! Xxi, Halawa and Punchbowl. Obiec-
tions to all of them were pointed out.
At the end of the report the committee
states the objection of Professor
Brigham and DIR. Maxwell to Punch
bowl, from scientific standpoint,
and concludes in this wise:
"Their view is that the crater of
Punchbowl is Objectionable for the
purpose, to Il far greater degree than
any other locality in Honolulu from
the danger of contamination of the
artesian water supply, from the fact
that the shaft of the crater and nu.
merous old steam cracks of which
there is abundant evidence, lead down
without doubt to the artesian basin
and are not likely to be sufficiently
closed up to prevent drainage from
the surface. i'm case the cemetery
should be established there, from
reaching down and communicating the
the artCsian water below. This evi.
dence of these two gentlemen. whose
reports on the subject are filed here
with, is conclusive, and your com.
mittec would therefore request fur.
Their time for making new investiga,
tons"
II was voted to give the committee
the time desired.
During the discussion of the sub.
iect President Dole suggested the
propriety of having numerous Gene
teries. Honolulu. he pointed out
covers an area of ten miles. If the
cemetery was located down the rail
road, Waikiki people would have q
drive of six miles to the depot before
the start by rail could bc made. This
would be an immense hardship.
The President thought that it would
be far more convenient. and perhap,
more in line with sanitary require
ments, if numerous small. well kept
cemeteries were started. There could
be two or more on the Waikiki end OF
town, and two, three or four between
those and Kalihi. At the same time
there should be crematory. Whether
this should be n private or state insti'
tuition the executive had not deter.
mined. But the crematory should be
started at once. The better classes
were already prepared to receive, and
others would gradually become edu'
Gated up to it.
The meeting went ON record as fay
oring crematory.