The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-26

Chinatown at some point Eva OF the
Nuuanu stream. II the present Board
Of Health holds the present burnt dis
trict vacant for a year as they should
do, that section will be reserved for a
park strip and business needs which
the growing city viii demand.
But meantime unless prompt and
definite steps are taken to prevent It.
the Asiatics will have scattered
through the town, building their
shacks or renting stores and liv-
ing rooms wherever small-spirited
property-owners give them place:
Within the next month the present
plastic and portable mass of Asiatics
will have begun to "set" in the loca-
lions to which they will go, following
the sure law of least resistance or
most convenient access.
To meet this immediate and press
ing need, I submit the following work
ing basis: That The Sanitary China
town Co., Ltd" or a similar corpora
ton be organized by responsible citi-
zens who will contribute or secure
funds to erect stores and tenemenCs
Eva of Nuuanu stream. No monopoly
or special privilege to be granted this
company except the guarantee of the
Board Of Health that no buildings with
less complete sanitary appointments
shall be permitted elsewhere.
The present Citizens Sanitary Com
mittee or a special agent of the Board
of Health to personally inspect and
pass on each building site to see that ii
affords chance for natural drainage;
all plumbing to be so placed that 1t can
be readily connected with sewers as
soon as they can be extended there.
Buildings so constructed could be
tenanted as fast as completed and
should yield steady and fair return
on the investment. This should make
available some trust funds held here
for investment and so make the least
possible disturbance of ordinary bust
ness capital.
Such work carried out on sensible
business lines would accomplish the
following results:
1. Give immediate employment TO
the unskilled labor in the digging of
vaults and the rOugher work of con-
2. Help to relieve the Government
in the construction of temporary quar-
tiers.
3. Turn the relief question into
commercial lines.
We cannot go on indefinitely hand
ling the situation at sheer expense to
the community.
4. Protect the city from an indis-
criminate scattering of Asiatics, which
once done could not be eradicated for
a decade.
5. Provide decent housing for the
Orientals, which they and all human
beings are entitled to.
s. Most important of all, give us
reasonable guarantee that we shall not
have to again face another such in
tolerable experience and disgraceful
filth revelation four or five years from
now.
1 am aware that there are difficult
ties to be met. and that criticisms can
be made on this plan. Comments that
will improve this plan or offer better
one, / will welcome. Others we can
we'll dispense with, as this is the hour
Tor action and not for speechmaking. |
wish to point out also that If this /
plan will permanently better Honolulu |
and protect it from epidemics, there |
s general obligation upon planta- |
ion stockholders. as well as local |
and business houses, |
o back the project with prompt finan-
.ial support, as well as with business !
Judgment and organization.
During the darkest hours of the Civ !
] War President Lincoln was always /
nsistent that construction work on 1
he National Capitol building should /
lever be interrupted. This is a time /
II pre-occupation with temporary
and a state of mental ten
ion which tends to dull the public I
mind to future needs and possibilities. /
But the vigorous carrying out of such 4
constructive policy would both bet
er our mental state, provide employ
nent and homes for many needy ORR
'ntals, and also make for the better
nent Of the greater Honolulu that Is
o be. GEO. b. MCCLELLAN