The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-02-20

ut tuihpi iNNN'a "fPNr''D
in recent issue OF the Washington
Star:
ON STEAMER NIPPON MARU,
December 3, 1899.
In the trip from San Francisco to Ma
Mia by way OF Hongkong one spends a
day at Honolulu and a passing glimpse
Is given of the first of our recent ISL
and acquisitions.
When the Nippon Maru steamed into
Honolulu harbor yesterday morning
ample evidence was furnished of the
vigorous impulse which recent events
have given to the development of the
Pacific communities from San Fran
cisco to Manila. A week ago, when we
passed through the Golden Gate, not
only San Francisco but the whole Pacif-
ic coast from San Diego to Seattle, was
In ferment of business activity. New
blood, warm and rich, was pulsating
through the veins of commerce. The
section after a period of lethargy had
awakened to it's work as the strong
m n refreshed by sleep. Everybody
was busy, pushing, hopeful. Every
ere seemingly boundless energy and
cheerful confidence prevailed.
Here in Honolulu harbor similar con-
uiLiOub Wclc ncts manly VI Ihc CAtcl
appearances were unchanged. The
waves still rolled lazily up the sands
of Waikiki. Unclad youngsters still
padded about in their rough coffin
shaped boats and invited opportunities
to dive for coins. Hawaiian canoes,
with their balancing outriggers, darted
here and there.
Punchbowl still looked down upon q
city buried in park, with here roof
and there a tower or steeple showing
through the green and irregular sur
face of the dominating foliage. But the
harbor, once harmonious part of a
scene of peaceful beauty, a lazy Ely
SUM, is now overlooking with ships,
which fill the air with smoke and I'M
accustomed noises, and which Danish
the possibility of the old day-dreaming
through the hustle and hustle of in
tense business activity. The change is
brought home practically to the Nippon
Maru, for every docking place in the
harbor is occupied ana she is compell-
ed to anchor out in the channel and to
land passengers in small boats.
Uncle Sans Way Station to Manila.
The hostilities in the Philippines are
responsible in part for the present over
crowding of the harbor. Five army
transports are here-the Hancock
Ohio, Puebla, ST. Paul and Duke of
Fife-and the Indiana Is lying outside
awaiting the chance to enter. Irrespec-
tive. however, of this temporary and
extraordinary demand upon Honolulus
docks, the commercial growth of the
city is such, it is said, that the docking
facilities are becoming inadequate with
the result that ships are often subject
ed to long delays in discharging their
cargofs, and lne demand is urgent for
an enlargement by dredging of the
present harbor
The transports furnish the most in
teresting feature of the water scene.
Their bugle calls indicate that Uncle
Sam, armed, Is on the move. They
suggest the value to the nation of this
ocean outpost, where it's soldiers may
recuperate, its ships recoal and the
horses and mules, bound for the Philip
pines, may profit by an absolutely es-
sential period of rest and semi-tropical
acclimation. These animals, SO much
needed at the present juncture In Lu-
ION, cannot endure the long journey
from San Francisco to Manila without
a break. They are kept here week
or two and proceed generally by an
other transport than the one which |
brought them to Honolulu. The trans |
ports entertained here are of all sorts, |
from the palatial Hancock, the old Ari- |
iona extensively refitted with it's re-
frigerating plant accommodating |
enough meat to feed a regiment for |
six months; its model soldiers kitchen, |
Its isolating hospital and dispensary,
Its electric lights, armory, magazine, |
specie tank, bath rooms and It's bilge |
keels to prevent rolling, to the humble |
sea carrier OF the unostentatious mule |
The transport horrors OF the Santiago |
campaign are not for Uncle Sans boys |
on the Hancock. Last night a recep-
ton was given on that transport by its |
officers, and the ship. blazing with cleo |
trio light and ringing with dance music,
was crowded by army officers and Ha-
waiian guests.
The transports In Honolulu when we
entered the harbor and those arriving
before our departure were of especial
interest TO one group OF the Nippon's
passengers. These were the wives of
Officers, ten or dozen in number, who
were bound for Manila General Otis
to the contrary Notwithstanding, and
who In some Instances by great good
luck met their husbands In Honolulu.
- soAhPoi iooh Va hotch bctWttU lnt pas |
sengers by transport and those on the !
Nippon Maru, who endured substan- |
TALLY the same weather between San J
Francisco and Honolulu. developed the
fact that the transports. with or with
out bilge keels. rolled badly n COM
parison with this comfortable steamer,
which with its two sister ships of the
Togo Kisen Kaisha Oriental Steam
ship Company is the largest. steadlest
steamer that sails from San Francisco.
The Pacific Mail is building two larger
ships. but for the last year or two the
Japanese have been and for some time
will continue to be distinctly In the
lead.
Ex-Minister and Special Agent
6ewall.
Before the passengers landed from
The Ninn0u I mat and "a /