The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-13
BUSINESS MEN
Effect of the Plague
Upon Trade.
A Generally Optimistic View Of the
Situation - The ConCensus of
Opinion is Favorable.

The merchants of Honolulu do not
take a discouraging view of the situa-
ton that has been brought about as
result Of the appearance Of plague in
this city. While all of them feel that
it is not desirable condition that has
come up, and that it will naturally af-
feet business, the question of its dura-
ton is looked upon in the most favor
able manner. Nobody appears TO be
discouraged. Business has always been
so. good in Honolulu, and has shown
such recuperative powers after period
zeal hurries of one kind or another,
that the men best acquainted with Ha-
waiian local trade take a most hopeful
view, while not ignoring the fact that
it were better for germs of the plague
to have remained in Japan. or wherever
they came from.
The drastic measures taken by the
Board of Health to rid the city of the
plague were most favorably comment
ed upon by the merchants yesterday.
Let us support the Board of Health"
was the unanimous expression. Let
us support every measure, no matter
how severe, If it is considered nsces-
sary to drive the plague away" The
desire for a new and cleaner neighbor-
hood for the inhabitants OF the infected
quarter appeared to be fixed in the
minds of merchants and business men
who were interviewed. The very bus
mess. sagacity that has made Honolulu
such an important commercial point
will not stop short of making health
full conditions here.
Following are a few expressions of
business men taken at random yester-
day by an Advertiser representative:
+. \. Schaefer 4 Co. said it was
rather early 10 tell just what effect the
plague would have upon business. Il
think we should not undertake to make
an estimate of that until the disease
has been stamped out, as l believe it
will be, judging by the prompt meas
ures taken by the Board of Health. In
the meantime, though business has
been affected somewhat. We are still
pretty well employed. There is no
cause to feel discouraged.
Fred. L. Waldron of T. II. Davies *
Co. said the present situation is natur-
ally detrimental to business. but when
il goes ahead again times will be bet
ter than ever. People do not believe
the bottom has dropped out" said Mr..
Waldron. "and are not discouraged. We
are not cutting short our supplies, and
our orders are satisfactory"
:. Enrich said: II want to say that
| endorse all that the Advertiser has
said as to getting rid of the plague. It
is the only paper that has come out
squarely and faced the situation in an
Intelligent manner. / say let China
town be burned and that part of the
city he put in good shape. But as to
the effect upon business. We shall feel
it for the next six months without
doubt"
Livingston & SOule were Of the Opin-
ion that business would suffer to some
extent FOR six months 10 come. I'VE
know pretty well that no tourists
would come to an infected port for
some time after quarantine is raised. -
said the firm. Business has already
been hurt materially. and care should
he taken to prevent the situation from
becoming worse"
+. Lewis, of Lewis & Co.. took a
hopeful view of the situation. when
the cholera was here a few years ago
the statement was freely made that We
would have a visitation of IL every
year. But we did not, and it may be
the same with the plague. People
t ras No 1fI-nIvv 70 hav
the plague here every year now, but
what Is there to justify that view?
! The house-to-house visitation that is
being made by the health authorities,
and the thorough inspection of the en-
tire infected quarter, will have its good
! effect. l consider that we are in a
/ fair way to be rid of the plague-or is
7 il really plague? At any rate. there
. is no cause to be discouraged. Disease
cannot thrive in this healthy place for
any length of time"
L. c. Ables said: "I have been here
for twenty years and in that time the
town has, in the opinion of certain
persons, been going to the dogs al
least twenty times. But here we are
doing more and more business. with
prosperity on all sides. Effect of the
some persons think"
]. Lando was of the opinion that II
the plague does not reach the planta
tiOns il will be of short duration, anC
that its effect will not be Tuinous.
E. W. Jordan said: 4 do not be
lieve white people are in any danger
and in any event. the scare will b,
only temporary. It's effect should no
be serious. The United States are deal
ing right along with countries infecte,
with this same plague. and yet yol
hear very little about the terrible ef
fects. Why should other places shu
us off, and yet continue 70 do business
with countries where there is NOR
plague? The situation is not bad"
Mr.. Marsh of Whitney & Marsh sal,
that trade had been affected but no
seriously. There is naturally a stat
of uncertainty just now" he said. "bu
1t will be only temporary. and tn
community will not suffer 10 any no
ticeahle extent"
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