The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-30
HAWAII UNDER THE
STARS AND STRIPES
WHAT ANNEXATION HAS DONE
FOR 1T.
The Advance in Business Prosperity
Since the American Flag Went UP
Has Been Steady and Rapid-An
Object Lesson in Expansion.
Honolulu Letter in the Sun.

Honolulu Letter in the Sun.
No better illustration of what the
term expansion means can be had than
by a comparison Of the Hawaii today
with the Hawaii of six years ago. 1t Is
almost incredible to see what a sub
stantial and rapid progress has been
made throughout Hawaii since an
nexation to this country. Before an
nexaton there was complete prostra-
tion of every kind Now all is changed.
Much of the old poetic, picturesque
life remains. These stalwart Hawaii
aness" goes her stately way clad in the
flaming holoka which so becomes her.
wreathed and crowned with leis; the
street laborer and the ain-driver pur-
sue their vocations also decorated with
/ flowers. The sound of the taro patch
fiddle still sounds through the groves
of shadowy algoroba. and the strains
of Hawaii Ponoi" yet delight the
! heart. But, with the old there is a new
and virle Hawaii the natural and in
4 evitable successor of that which has
A served his time. Honolulu itself has
changed astonishlngly. Fine business
blocks have already supplanted the Old
f buildings and the others are in process
k of construction; the stores are crowded
with the latest fashions in millinery
and dry goods; in the fine well-appoint-
ed book stores David Harum," THE
Rough Riders" and prisoners Of
Hope" are placed conspicuously on
sale, while the windows are filled with
wonderful photographs illustrating the
recent overflow of Mauna Loa. In one
street gangs of workmcn are laying
the track for new rapid transit line
to be operated by electricity: in others
the new sewer is being constructed
which, when completed, will make
Honolulu one of the most sanitary
cities in the world.
NEW SEWERS.
The sewer work has been planned
and supervised by a firm of competent
American engineers along decidedly
original lines. The sewage could not
be drained into the harbOr which is
land-locked, and where there is not
sufficient tide to carry it out to sea.
An enormous tank has been devised,
therefore. into which the citys sewers
will be emptied and the sewage will be
forced from this, by "A series of power
full pumps, beyond the reef into the
ocean. where it will be carried away.
1t will not remain to decay and pol
Lutte the harbor as has happened in
other island cities. breeding fever and
pestilence. Additional fire companies
have been organized and equipped with
/ all the best and most modern apDi-
ances for protecting the city againH.
fire. One of the older companies. il
may be said, is manned by Chinese
the engine. engine-house and equip
ments, with funds for maintenance
! having been contributed by wealthy
] Chinese merchants who carry on busi-
ness in Honolulu.
Real estate that was a drug on the
market year ago can hardly h,
bought now at any price. In the whole
I city and it's environs there are hardly
! dozen lots advertised foY sale. Han.
dreds Of houses have been built, many
of them spacious costly villas that art
perched upon the lower slopes of the
mountains but still within the corpor.
ate limits of Honolulu. With these
more ambitious dwellings are hundred.
of cottages, not one of which is vacant
while those not yet completed have
been bespoken for months. new SUI
hurb, Pacific Heights, on the lowe
slope of Round Top commanding
magnificent view Of the city, the har
bor, and the ocean beyond, has beer
surveyed and plotted and the streets
are being rapidy opened 1t will no
be three years until this will be com
pletcly built IN, with electric car lines
an abundant supply of water. and al
the modern improvements of any met
ropolitan suburb The electric hgh
plant for the city itself has been great
ly enlarged, so that even the la.g
| grounds and driveways, as well as III
residences themselves. are Brilliant!
lighted.
INCREASE IN SHIPPING.
The increase in shipping can hardl
be estimated there are five steamer
nowadays where there was one fv
years ago, when the Oceanic line an
|. the China mail had monopoly Nov
\ these old and excellent lines are add
Il ing new and larger vessels to thel
fleets, and, in addition to these, ther
are the new Japanese line, the Cana
dian Pacific and others. The fregh
which these ships carry has quad