The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-11
A MENACE
TO HEALTH
HIlo Reported To Be
Filthy.
WHAT SAM JOHNSON SAYS
he Pictures Alarming Conditions in
the Rainy City on
Hawaii.

MANY sanitary reforms are necessary at
Hho. according TO .he report OF captain
Sohnson. presented TO the BoarI of
Health yesterday. Captain johnson visit
ell hilo last week. taking an odorless ex-
c'Nstor with him, and he was given in
suuctions TO make a careful examination
OF the town and report what its sanitary
s'ate was. His report In full Is as fol-
lows:
nave the honor TO make the following
report on my visit 10 Hno. and also on
tne general sanitary coalition of that
ON my arrival. after delivering the
odoriess excavator TO Sheriff Andrews
men. set out to find the work for IL. Att
~ hndlng cesspool that was overflow
ing' and getting ready to have il puup-
td, l discovered the fact that no such a
tflng as regular dumping place existed in
flho. Not being able TO use the excavator
under these circumstances, I then began
the investigation of the garbage removing
system or the city. and In regard to II |
all now able TO give the following facts:
HILO Is DIRTY.
In the greater portion Of the city dry
earth closets are used. and the refus. is
there Is only one medium-sized cart used
TOT that purpose. 1 have seen places
Where the refuse stayed two or three
days. In the places with privy vaults
trey simply wait till II gets offensive.
when new vault is dug and the old one
nlled in.
No boxes for the inside OF vaults. vents
or covers for the seats are used. and ev-
erything II done without approval of an
agent OF the Board of Health
Ihere u "a sewer running through one
portion OF the town and the connections
are made with houses-s7ong its line. which
would stand the approval OF the Board of
Health. The sewer is flushed by the
stream from the mountains.
for removing OF common rubbish, an
other cart Is used. The number of cess
pools u very few. only bath houses. wash
houses and such places where plenty of
water - used have cesspoolS which are
never emptied. The houses in the lower
rart of the town are using open wooden
TUNES which in many cases are not COM
plete. or so poorly constructed and placed
that the liquid refuse is running over or
through them, saturating the ground or
lodging under the houses in very often
sive pools
For removing garbage and rubbish. fees
from ~ cents 10 S1-5O are collected. large
establishments exceeding $780, but of
these fees such expenses. as salaries
stock feed. garbage boxes etc. are paid.
The realizations are hardly large enough
% cover the expenses
NO TOWING SYSTEM.
The system OF towing garbage out to
sea cannot be introduced here for some
time yet. as there il no proper means of
towing or suitable place for the wharf
There Is a lot on Reds Island. owned
by sheriff Andrews. where for some time
past the refuse from dry earth closets
has been carted to and used for cuItiva-
ton, therefore arOusing complaints from
other residents OF that neighborhood.
sheriff Andrews has leased a few acres
OF land 20 be used dumping grounds.
southeast of the town. about one-quarter
OF a mile from nearest residence. The To-
cation and the. nature OF the ground OF
this place are in favor Of it's being used
Tor the purpose. this being the best and
the only place in Hilo. upon which dry
earth closets and liquid refuse could be
emptied.
But as the road to these grounds is Of
such a nature that no heavy wagon can
be used. II remains only to wait until IL is
properly graded and put in passable con-
dition
As under these circumstances was I'M
able to work the excavator on the cess
pools, I have. In the presence of Sheriff
Andrews and his men. pumped one load
thus was enabled to show them how the
pump and excavator should be used.
After making a thorough inspection of
the town. I am able to make the follow
Ing statements In regard TO its general
sanitary condition.
TOWN is FILTHY.
The streets are covered with rubbish.
which In many cases is Offensive. The
Houses are built regardless of health reg
uia tons. In some cases without any open
space between them, and I'm many cases
right on the ground. No proper drainage
for rain water Is used which often lodges
under the houses and becomes offensive.
In many cases yards are below the lev
81 OF the street and in wet weather are
flooded. Spaces under the houses arc
covered with Nth and liquid refuse from
the fumes Ducks are kept under the
w ses
/Bath houses. laundries and poi shops
hrc IN insanitary condition. from not hav-
ms proper drainage: floors are not water
tisht, clothes are dried on the premises.
and taro refuse Is thrown In the back
yard.
out OF numerous stables have inspect
cd none comply with sanitary regulations
and in many cases the incline OF the stalls
h toward the head OF the animal. some
have wooden floors which are not water
tight. and manure Is allowed TO accumu-
late TO a great extent. At the fish market
IA Is a common practice for the occupants
OF the stalls TO throw the remnants out
side on the grass. where they are left 70
decompose. a forty-eight hours notice 10
clear the space was served on the respoh-
sible parties on Tuesday morning.
have inspected both slaughter houses
and found them In a very insanitary con-
dition. especially the one owned oy Mr.
Lyman. Sheep and cattN are kept IN
pens. the ground OF which Is saturated
With liquid discharge so as to be almost
a awamp. The wooden floor OF pig pens Is
raised about two feet OF the ground. and
ths discharge which Is supposed to drain
into an adjoining sugar cane patch
leaking through that floor aud there Is
formed into pools. The place where the
animals are killed IL thick with dirt and
blood. Hides. bones. Intervals. etc. are
scattered all over the premises and are
thickiy covered with flies; from the state
mept OF the man On charge. The place had
not been washed for months, although
the stream T. but 100 yards of.
There are no sanitary rules or regula-