The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-02-13
IMPROVEMENT
Minister Young's Time
ly Suggestions.
Growth Of Honolulu Demands New
Building Laws, New Fire Linn
its and More WhaVes,

ilUn. Alexander Young Minister OF
the Interior was interviewed on last
Saturday afternoon by an Advertiser
reporter, as follows;
Replying to your several questions
regarding general Improvements for
Honolulu. and in particular the extern
sion of the sewerage system to locali-
ties OF Importance outside of the lines
taken in by the plans OF Mr.. Rudolph
Herring, prepared for the Government
in 1898, as well as all the localities
covered by said plans, / have to say
that in calling for tenders for the COM
pletion of the sewerage of Honolulu
the Government is mindful of the need
OF extension beyond the limits covered
by Mr.. Herring's plans. We have, by
the steamer Coptic, which sailed Feb
ruary 9Th for the Mainland, sent for
ward plans and specifications inviting
tenders for labor and materials separ-
ately; not only for the completion of
the sewerage for Honolulu laid down
in Mr.. Herring's plans, but also to
cover several extensions anticipated
FOR outlying districts and for that
made necessary by the remodeling of
the streets in Chinatown.
Growth of Honolulu.
Honolulu is growing rapidly Beyond
a doubt the submarine cable connect
ing these Islands with the Mainland,
and which we will have shortly, will
accelerate the increase of population to
an enormous extent; so much so
in fact, that / believe there will not
be accommodations for such influx of
people unless the property owners of
Honolulu bestir themselves. Hundreds
of men and their families from other
lands would gladly spend a part of
each year on our sunny shores, If they
could do so and keep in touch with the
rest of the world meanwhile. The great
waterway soon to be constructed
across the mainland continent, for the
accommodation OF the commerce of all
nations passing from the Atlantic to
the Pacific and vice versa, when COM
pleted, will bring such an avalanche of
trade and travel to our shores as will
astonish even the most sanguine opti-
mist OF today regarding Honolulu's flu
ture.
The property owner who hangs back
in the breeching like mule that does
not want to go, may have the enjoy
ment for little while of thinking that
he is blocking the game; but finally he
will find out that he cuts no figure in
retarding progress. He will be dragged
along by others equally determined,
who keep their ears forward and never
prove Tickle in the onward march of
public Improvement. Vigorous and in
telligen, improvement clubs may do
much t. point out what is most need
ed throughout the city; and it is to be
1. - n1~ l.. nrern aiHn
in every district of Honolulu, composed
of unselfisn men, who will keep their
course as much as possible away from
politics and centered wholly on public
benefaCtion.
The Improvements Needed.
Wnat is now wanted in Honolulu
seems 10 ne to be united effort on the
part OF he citizens for improvements
on g. antic scale, carried out on the
most approved sanitary principles,
bearing in mind that that which is not
good is not cheap at any price. Let us
therefore have the very best, even
though Il costs a good deal of money.
We need better buildings, wider \and
better made streets and roads, and
more OF them, in both city and suburbs,
for the present and increasing popula-
tion ami traffic of Honolulu. 1t will re-
.luire lavge sums of money to accom-
plish this; but no town or city ever re-
GREETED judicious expenditures for such
public improvements as roads, streets,
and sewers.
All tracts in and around Honolulu
unfit for human habitation on account
of low level, should be improved, con-
verted into parks and planted with
suitable trees and shrubs. 1t has from
time to time been pointed out by Mr..
Allan Herbert, and others, that the
stretch Of low-lying land extending
from FolSaako to Waikiki on the sea
beach, should be ditched properly and
converted into public park.
The poorer people should not be
compelled, through their poverty, to
make their abode in such unwholesome
localities while there Is room enough
on more elevated lands. AS a general
thing the heahhfulness of city, ia
ken az a whole, is only equal to the
most Unhealthy sections of that city,
when trouble comes.
Property holders do not lose by
spending money for good houses and
best kind of sanitation; on the con-
trary, is the most direct way to make
property paying investment. Be
sides, no property owner mas any risht
10 let his property become insanitary
and dangerous menace to the health
of himself or his fellow-men; such
should be an offense punishable by
heavy penalties imposed by law.
Extend Fire Limits.
The ire limits should and must be
extended much beyond the present
lines. This extension. together with
coming legislation, to regulate the kind
of buildings to be allowed ON any
street, will do much to control the re-
construction of Honolulu, and in the
long run benefit property owners and
all concerned.
Coming events are today casting
their shadows before them; and 1t is
safe 10 predict, though Honolulu has
NJ present only a population OF less
Ihan 10000 inhabitants, that the popu-
lafinn in IQOb will he close TO 100 900