The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-12-30

mittee will be followed by the Board,
how soon that body amidst its multi
farious duties, will get to work and
finally who will be chosen to properly
superintend the work.
As to the report itself it is a good one.
1t fearlessly draws a picture of the
filth of Chinatown which makes one
sick to think of. Its bald statements
are far more striking than any lurld
writing would be and they bring home
to ones mind the utter plague spot
which this district is.
To meet these conditions in a prac-
teal way was the problem which the
commissioners had to solve and for that
purpose they make ten recommended
tions, all of which are pertinent, and
many of them could be carried out at
once. For instance there should be no
delay in building the six eXcavators.
Indeed they should already have
been commenced, for full fortnight
ago the Board of Health knew from
practical experience that its present
force of eNcavators was utterly made
quate for the work required. 1t should
have been up and doing on it's own ac-
count and need not have waited for the
committees report. In point of fact
the offer Of the water carts for con-
version into eXcavators has been made,
but no step has been taken towards
awaiting of that offer.
That there should be good sanitary
engineer for the city all will agree to.
The grading and draining of the low
lands is a self evident proposition The
establishment of a market i'm the dis
trict, and the doing away with the
dozens upon dozens of little shops
which cater for the inhabitants will be
an eminently good move. The position
of the present market is inconvenient
for laborers and others who inhabit the
district. Opportunity should be given
for this class of the community to OBJ
tain their food supply close at hand,
but it should be sold from buildings in
proper sanitary condition. The descrip-
ton of butchers shops and restau-
rants in Chinatown is something which
is hardly believable. These things can
be attended to rapidly
Other recommendations call for more
time, the passing of laws to regulate
buildings and plumbing will have to
wait until Legislature is allowed us
by Congress, so also will the special
powers for the Board of Health But
preparation can be made and the bills
be introduced at the commencement of
the session.
Besides the recommendations the
committee drew up a set of regulations
which should go into force at once.
These are clear and if carried out will
do much to improve existing conditions.
Everyone will agree with the commit
tee that the enforcement of the regula-
tions ARE of vital importance to pro-
per sanitary condition and will admit
of no delay"
One point made by the committee is
that the cost of Improvements in
Chinatown should not be thrown upon
the public purse but should be borne by
the property holders. The fault is
theirs. They have allowed these build
ings to get into this condition and have
battened on the rents which came from
their miserable tenements. 1t would
be very unjust to the general public to
call upon it to put in order at public
expense a set of shacks and improve
the property to the great advantage Of
the owners.
The committee has done it's work well
and deserves the thanks of the COM
munity. The names of George r. Car
ter, F. H. Edwards and c. B. Ripley
shine in contrast with those of the
property owners, who have drawn their
money from filth, and those of the
Board of Health which neglected to use
its powers for ameiorating such con-
ditiOns,