The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-07

been made very productive of late and
will be made more SO as trade becomes
better established. There has been but
little change in the politics OF the islands
since they became a possession of the
United States, as the president and other
officials all hold over unfit 1906 When the
people will seFect their successors. When
the islands were annexed there was but
little change, except that a general con-
fdence was established that did not exist
before and trade with other countries has
become greatly enhanced. Americans
coming back to the United States still
have to pay duty, and have their bae-
gage searched. Postage remains at <
cents ard good deal of the old red
Idl'e sun exists, but every one exnects
WIN the selection of a new BODY of ad-
mlnlstratiVe officers that some new rules
VII pe made regulating these subjects.
Inc three thousand Americans in
honolulu have spent a great deal of
money entertaining the American troops
who have passed through the city on
thelr way to and from the Philippines
AS Honolulu is now a very important
coallng station, all the warships- sion
there. All the transports carrying voIun-
teer troops to the Philippines made a.
stop at the capital for coal, and all alike
were given a cordial greeting. Forty
thousand dollars was spent by the Amer
lean population entertaining the soldiers
With the exception Of the Oregon and
Utah regiments. all vessels returning
troops from the Philippines have passed
through on their return
There is no very pronounced sentiment
among the Americans at Honolulu re-
garding the acquisition of the Philippine
Su~1r
many believe that the United States paid
a pretty big price for the islands Every
thing is very 1peaeeable' on the Islands,
and a great number Of Japanese are
employed in the rice and sugar fields.
Sugar is the most important product. The
present high price has proved a great
impetus to its cultivation, and the COM
panies operating the plantations are pro-
ducing as much as it is possible to get
from the land. At present sugar is high
er than it has been for some years. For
a very long time it hung around three
cents. Now that things are more settled
in the islands there is great activity
among the American population. Some
of the big plantation companies are stock
ed for S5,000,000 apiece, and we have q
number Of exceedingly wealthy concerns
in Honolulu. A man with q small capital
stands but little chance, as 1T requires
a great amount of money TO start a
plantation and the trade IS virtually con-
trolled by the big concerns. Ordinary
American laborers are in but little de-
mand, as Japanese can be employed for
Is cents per day, but skilled labor COM
mands high figure. Carpenters are paid
81 per day and mechanics and other skill
ed laborers receive pay at about the
same figure.
81 left San Francisco for Honolulu
three years ago when affairs were some
what unsettled on the islands, and since
then have superintendent the laying of a
GOOD part of the Oahu railroad, which
ar the time had but twelve miles Of road,
and now it's mileage is seventy-one miles.
The railroad is the only transportation
line entering Honolulu and has been do
ing very large and profitable business.
Extensions to the present line will be
made as conditions warrant, and from
the rapid strides that have been made
il is safe to assume that great deal OF
railroad building will be done In the
future. The reports which we see in the
| newspapers of the eruption OF mount
Mauna Loe are somewhat exaggerated
While the disturbances on the crest are
somewhat unusual there is at present no
apparent danger to the city. heavy
smoke hangs over the city at times, ana
drifts many miles out to sea. one OF
the messenger steamers recently lost us
way in the smoke and very nearly ran
ashore on one of the small Islands. L De-
| lieve that Mauna Loe is the only volcano
in the world in action today. The last
time a dangerous eruption occurred was
fr9 1880. when it caused more or less ex-
! citement, it is said, among the natives
| There is no particular anxiety among the
| people living in Honolulu, as it is be-
| lieved that the disturbance has reached
its height. The eruption started on