The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-06-28
San Francisco,s Chinatown.

b8n tranc1Sco'S Ohlnat0wn.
The Eastern visitor in San Franc
isco turns naturally toward China
town. He has heard of it's pictu-
rescue coloring, and is not disap-
pointed. An inspection, made casu.
ally, is like glimpse at the Orient,
the quaintness Of costume, speech,
and habit unchanged, It he visitor does
not have to live near Chinatown, to
pass it on his way to work, does not
have to be conscious that morally
and physically it is a plague-spot,
and concerning these things the
thoughtful San franciscan could
give him considerable information.
DR.. Shrady, of New York. says that
compared with New York's China
town, the local one is as darkness to
light, or heathendom to civilization.
Chinatown, as it is, should be ab-
olished. With all its filth and SOU alor
its underground dens, its crowding
together uf the scum of nation not
notable for cleanliness, it would
time aud time again have given rise
to. some epidemic sweeping the city
save for benign conditions OF loca.
tion and atmosphere. 1t is so situat-
ed that even defective sewers can
not estop its drainage, and across it
blow daily winds from the ocean
carrying away its poisons. The
weather is never hot here, and thus
the process of animal decay is slow,
and odors that elsewhere broiiing
sun would force from the reeking
cutters aud the markets are not to
be detected. Passing through China.
town without prying into alleys and
Easements, one may almost avoid
distressing odors, save that OF fish
and an airy flavor of opium.
There is not another municipality
in the U. S. sustaining or permitting
80 dirty terminal district as China
town Probably there is no other
city in which such spot could have
been fostered without terribly fatal
results. A question arises as TO
whether San Francisco should long.
er permit the risk. In New York old
tenement houses are being torn
down and replaced by large, we'll,
ventilated, and sunny structures,
and yet the ones razed never harb-
ored tithe of the noisome impurity
that fosters in the Easements and
secret tunnels of Chinatown. But
when Chinatown declines to keep
wholesome, and the bane OF it's put.
ridity crosses the dividing line, the
city has the right aud duty OF self.
protection. There appears no met
hod less radical than making an end
to Chinatown. Let it's populace be
cleared out, its rotting rookeries dis.
infected, its cellars filed, its paws
ments relaid, it's sewers perfected,
and then a new class OF tenants be
given possession.
The Chinese have taken to their
own use a portion OF the city that in
their absence would be most desira.
BILE. To oust them might be regard
ed as hardship, but the familiar
rule OF the greatest good to tho
greatest number would warrant it
amply. The purpose would be- not
to deprive them of any right, but to
preserve the rights OF the people at
large. There is no tenet of common
sense, nor religion which demands
the ignoring or the liberation OF
such a dangerous nuisance as China
town. AS to providing new quarters,
there may be problem, because OF
the claim advanced that to drive the
Chinese to particular quarter
would be unconstitutional. This
issue may be evaded by an arousal
Of sentiment. If suitable quarters