The National tribune., 1900-06-28


cent visitor to the Island. The scene be-
fore me is more like n beautiful conserva-
| tory than anything elSe-So rich II Is in
all kinds of tropical plants and trees and
rare exotics of the temperate zones.
The interior is reached by passing up a
| broad flight of stone steps onto the great
porch and thence into the main hallway.
From here one reaches any portion of the
building he desires. We found the rooms
of the Provisional President and his Cabi-
net upon the second floor. and entered only
| for moment. The hnishingS of all rooms
are of native wood.
Directly across from the Palace, on
King Street, is the Kings Court" now
! used by the Government as the judiciary
Building. The building is of lava CON
crete. with large grounds. Its cost was
about S1S5. 600. In the foreground will be
seen the statue of Kamehameha in his
| ROYAL Robe. With one hand he holds the
great spear, while with the other he beck
ons you q welcome.
OPIUM SMUGGLING.
Opium smuggling has always been car
ried on, and | doubt if it has in any great
measure subsidized. 1t is shame upon
country to be unable to crush such 4 crime.
| believe detective patrol steamer is
needed in the harbor. Let it seize every
suspicious vessel. Such vessels have been
often seen, and repeatedly reported, and
only brief time afterward this drug has
been sold at low figure.
Five minutes walk from the Govern
ment Building will bring us to the Police
Station Here another quiet surprise will
await our visitor. Although all in Gov
ernment authority in the Islands are prac-
tically Americans, yet the police are in
variably kanaka. Just why this is so is
difficult to understand, unless we decide
that such can better protect the citys in
teicsts among the natives. OF this l am
in doubt.
From here we naturally turn to the
Oahu Prison, or. as the natives say, "On
the Reef" This building is situated upon
coral reef extended into Honolulu Har-
bor, and is connected to the mainland by
a narrow roadway. The prisoners are not
limited to natives. We find plenty of
Kanakas who rather like this life, where
they have kind treatment, plenty of food
and someone to think for them. Most
unique of ali. perhaps. is the sad-faced
Chinaman. who has been obliged to ex-
change Oriental dress for the striped con
vict suit of blue and brown-one side
brown and the other side blue Here we
may see some of the awful sufferngs of
the opium fend. Many of these Chinese
inmates are almost insane from being de
prived of this drug.
These convicts are compelled to do the
work upon the city streets, and it is
usual sight to behold cart after cart load
of these unfortunates being driven to their
daily labor.
SUNDAY SERVICES.
Sunday services are held in the prison
yard, and usually are well attended. Here,
surrounded by an eight-foot wall, whose
top is covered with broken glass, these
beings spend their Sundays at the only
home they know.
Leaving Oahu Prison, we retrace our
way over the Oahu narrow-guage railroad
to the yards. Here we see the miniature
steam train ready to take its human
freight over 4S miles of road-to the far
ther side of the Island-for 10 cents per
mile. This is one of the most pleasant
of trips for the visitor The railroad goes
through acres of plantations and miles of |
wild scenery 1t requires at least one day
to take the trip.
The Postoftice is worthy a visit if for |
no other reason than to learn the outside |
general delivery method in use in the Isl |
apds. Tons upon tons of mail are distrib- |
uted annually from the lock-boXes under the |
porch of this building. 1t is, indeed, an |
unusual sight for an American to see one |
get his mail from delivery boxes outside |
building; yet in tropical country it is !
not only possible but very convenient as |
well. No time is wasted opening and |
closing doors, or patience lost by jostling |
ones way in crowd.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Let US now drop in Honoulu's Central |
Fire Station. Not everyone is aware that |
this city has an up-to-date 15-seconds roll |
out Fire Department. While | was not for. |
tunate enough when in the city to see the |
boys answer an alarm, yet j have always |
found their hose and engine rooms cozy,
well regulated and fitted with all modern |
appliances. The horses used by the de
partment are as fine as California sends |
out, and not few Of the boys are ex-
American firemen.
Within 800 feet of the Central Engine
Station stand probably nine tenths of the
great business houses of Honolulu. AS we
are only few steps from the wharyes we
may step down and investigate the export
and import trade. What New York City
is to America, what San Francisco is to
Western United States, what Havana IS
TO Cuba, Honolulu is to Hawaii. 1t is the
commercial center of the group; more than
this, it is the social and political center
of Hawaii. Business and politics inter,
mingled with social energy are more ap-
pslent at its wharyes than any American
city FEbs Visitor ,,;,, ,oo, n v,;n e.. -.;o,o.
Of manufacture in the piles of exports
True, some such will be found; but they
will bear foreign hiaTas. Honolulu is
purely an agricultural city. 1t is not,
never has been, and may never be, city
of manufacture. How can it be2 1t has
nothing to manufacture There are no
We will see coal, iron, hay and grain
and manufactured goods in large quanti-
ties, but they are accompanied with Amer
lean bills of lading. While there are
very few foundries in Honolulu, they are
dependent upon the agricultural needs OF
the Islands, and only employ a few hands.
Groceries, boots and shoes, clothing and
other needs are mainly shipped from Cali
fornia. The great wealth Of the. Islands
lies in agriculture.
Honolulu Harbor Is, as Mr. Seward
said, "a crossroads in the Pacific" Over
three-fourths of the trading vessels In the
port are flying the American flag Inland
steamers and vessels, at the close of the
sugar season, bring thousands of bags of
sugar and packages of rice, which nre
placed upon vessels bound for "'Frisco."
There are many fine buildings in the
city. The Y. NJ. c. a. Building and Pub
lie Library Building are among the best.
So also is the Cleveland Block (the Ma
sonic Temple), aud the native church,
Ksumakapii. The Safety Deposit Vault,
Central Union Church, and many others
are built of lava, or coral. and set in ce-
ment.
The water for the city comes from
large storage reservoirs In the Nuuanu |
Valley. These are large enough to furnish