The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-11
THE SHOWER
Honolulu is Refreshed
By a Bath.
Over an Inch Of Moisture Has Fallen
In the Past Twenty-Four
Hours.
Rainy day, isn't it?"
Yes, thank Heaven.

Yes, thank Heaven.
One heard it a dozen times on the
streets yesterday. 1t was rather mean
all through the morning, for the rain
had been falling softly but steadily
since the preceding evening, and long
glistening ridges of mud showed where
wheels had passed. The carts were
around fairly early covering the cross
ings with coarse black sand; but the
rain collected in little pools even here,
as the showers came harder, and mud
stuck to shoes aud trousers and skirts,
and was tramped all over sidewalks
and into stores and houses.
Nobody objected to the incidental
discomfort. The rain was universally
welcomed and rejoiced in. Every one
was glad to see it and hoped it would
continue all day 1t was blessing in
all kinds of ways. For the first time in
months the dust was thoroughly laid
On Beretania avenue and other streets
that are much travelled by people COM
luB lulO JONu VI SOluS cut Hty were
so thoroughly moistened that even aft
er the showers had ceased water stood
here and there along the cutters. 1t
was not a beautiful sight on its own
account, but because of what it signi-
fed.
The grass drank up the water greedi-
ly, and the plots in the yards have
taken on a deeper. richer green than
daily watering produces. The vivid
colors everywhere, in trees, grass,
bushes, and vines. the clear, fresh air
with its life-giving quality instead of
the dead air of recent weeks, and the
gentle breeZe that made the branches
wave, made the city even more attrac-
tive 10 the eye than usual. The hedges,
the Cacti, and even the leaves Of the
trees were,WaShed clean, for the first
time in weeks. of the dust that had
blown against them and accumulated.
When the sun came out all nature was
dripping, smiling, and bright.
At Punahou, according to Professor
Curtis j. Lyons. the meteorologist,
eighty-two hundredths of an inch of
rain fell up to noon of yesterday.
One and forty-six hundredths inches
had fallen up in Nuuanu velley
yesterday morning. and this was
probably raised to three inches
by the middle of the afternoon. In the
city the rain fell in the manner calcu-
lated TO do the most good; showers,
heavy or light, succeeding one anoth-
er. with intervals of cessation or of
sunshine. The result has been of in
calculable benefit to the country by
imparting new life and impetus to all
things that grow, and also by clearing
"A nj 10 nj nv h
ing off and carrying into the ground
all sorts of deposits and accumuiations
Of vegetable and animal matter. Pro-
fessor Lyons could not hold out much
hope that the rain would continue, be-
cause showers of this kind. which de-
pend upon the wind to bring them
from the mountains, do not cause a
fall in the barometer However, he
seemed to think that some heavy rains
might be expected about the end of the
month. This has been the dryest sea-
son on record, and on a great many ac-
counts days or even weeks of rain
would be heartily welcomed. The cleo
trio lights could be run whenever they
were needed; the people in the valley
and along the upper levels, who have
to depend upon Nuuanu water. would
be abundantly supplied; the deaths
would become FEWER and the sickness
less; and commercially rainy week
would be worth thousands of dollars to
planters and farmers.
From up the valley the report came
late yesterday that there were about
four feet of water in reservoir No. 2,
and the same in No. 3, with about five
feet in No. !; and that it was still
raining. Nuuanu stream rose slightly
yesterday morning. and it's water.
muddy from the showers, is likely to
keep on rising until after the rain up
In the mountains ceases. I'm good
seasons says an authority, sit rains
high up in the valley so much of the
time that If you ask the way to any
mans house up there, people will tell
you to keep on until you get through
the first shower and theAturn to the
right. But during the laafour months
hardly one of even the few showers we
have had in the city appears to have
extended up TO the reservoirs; which
day before yesterday were dry. caked
and cracked open"