The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-04


The annual report of the Governor of
the Territory Of Hawaii was made public
TODAY by the Interior peparumen. The
report was prepared by she Acting Gov
eTnOr. Henry p. Cooper. who gives in
tsresting details regarding the improve
meuts made ON the island during the past
fiscal year
Discussing the population OF Hawaii, the
report says that Tor many years there
has been a SteaG, decrease in the number
of native Hawaiians. although there has
been an increase ia the number of other
inhabitants Of the islands The report
saws that many reasons have been as
signed for this decrease. but that sJatis-
Jics show that many IiaWliilHs die before
reaching maturity. and that large fami-
lies are rare ia the islands. At one time
IAe report adds. iuialtiaide was practiced
II an alarming extent
Under the title OF public lands the re-
port says that the distinction between
Crown and Governments lands no longer
exists. the public domain coded by Ha-
waii 60 this country upon annexation in
Guiding that portion thereof previously
designated as Government lands as well
as Crown lands
The report gives a number OF JaDuIatel
patents issued during the past year. and
touches somewhat briefly upon jhe com
merce of the island. saying.
The volume Of commerce 10 the credit
OF the Territory is very satisfactory
While the great bulk ~ our trade can. no
longer Dee placed in the export columns Of
our accounts D. D. necessary Tor the pUr-
pose Of comparison 20 include the amounts
OF domestic products shipped 20 The main
land with that exported TO foreign Couu-
OF u. 81 nTT Do. Hns.H
tlne8t Co note tho difficulty which exists
In showing the amount "f our domestic
trade. Since the 18th of June. 1900 the
day when Hawaii became an organized
territory. un entry OF goods has been re
quired when either shipped tc OF from tho
mainland. For this reason il is not praC-
ticabl. To give an accurate account OF
the amount Of American goods that have
entered the Territory some regulation.
or possibly an act Of Congress. should be
passed % remedy this defect for it seems
OF. great importance 10 know what be-
comes Of American products"
FvrhaTi the most interesting part of the
report is that devoted 10 discussing uu-
merous fire claims growing out of the
towns infested with the bub0uic plague
during the year Of 1893 Discussing this
matter. the report SAYS
During the prevalence Of bUbouic
plague in the city OF Honolulu in the
months Of December. 1899 and January
and February. 1877 the board Of health.
after many futile efforts 10 place that
portion OF the city known as Chinatown
IN sanitary condition. became convinced
that extraordinary measures would have
TO be- adopted n the disease was 20 De
Drought under control At the beginning
uf the outbreak a volunteer citizens san
l.ary committee was formed. and the en-
tire city was subjected 10 riZid iuSpec-
ton IrOss who were assigned 10 E-iua-
town discovered a condition Of affairs
which was hard 20 realize. and from the
health standpoint revolving in the eN-
trerne- Ia a number 90 blocks a Iaby-
Ttnth Of narrow alleyways were found
surrounded 10y dtapid2ted wooden build
1nss loLaL} unit Tor hlm1n habitation-
Overlooking ceEspOOiS existed under many
Or the houses. and the decayiug floor tim
fers were saturated with the filth The
utter Indifference and hclpIcSsuess OF the
Inhabitants. as well as the general con-
Cluons. proved "A formid able obstacle I'm
I4e way OF Sanitdtary Improvement.
Hordcs OF rats Infested the locality and
were considered a menace T. the other
parts OF the city owing 20 the fact that
they were known To De- susceptible 10 the
disease. Finally II was decided thar the
nniY speedy way OF solving the problem
was 10 destroy by fire such buildings as
could not be satisfactorily renovated aud
which had been declared 70 De infected bv
plague owing either to deaths having
taken place in them or I'm the immediate
The first fire was ordered by the board
o. health on January ]. 1890. The buildings
= De consumed were situated on NuuauU
Street on the border line between China
town ana the business portion of Tho
city Three deaths from plague had 0o-
CURED I'm rapid succession iu one Of the
bull1lnEs ana several dead rats were
found in the rooms of adjoining houses.
The nre department was called out and
every p-cC1uJlUn was taken 90 guard
against the spread OF the fire. Al the
buildings IN the condemned section to-
getner with their contents Were DESTROY
ed, and sigh OF relief went up when 10
was known lndt al least one plague spot
was disposed Of. The first was followed
BY several others iu the next succeeding
days until the great confagratiou ~ Jan
Uary ~ occurred.
I'm attempting to burn block Of con-
demned buildings the five department lost
control Of the fire. owing u q sudden and
violent cEanSe OF wind The burning en-
bers rose high In the afr. and finally set
IRE 90 one Of the spires Of kaumakavliI
Church. All efforts 70 extiuguish this
blaze were Intellectual, and urebrauds
were soon flying over the lll-fatsd quarter.
which readily IguiJed numerous fires. and
within short space If time Chinatown
was almost completely destroyed the only
portion saved being the brick structures
connected with the main business centre.
At the time the IRE happened the district
was under "a military quarantine guard.
as no person had been allowed % leave
the quarter without permission. A relief
camp was under construction u Waika-
milo. about Two miles outside or the city,
where an who had been taken from the
Infected houses were being guarterrd. The
FIRE rendered homeless between 1900 and
6.JD Chinese JapauesH. and Hawauaus- To
pr8yll, shelter and maintenance for this
large number taxed the resources OF our
CltlEeIs To- tle utmost churches and pub
lie buildings were utilized temporarily,
while hastily constructed barracks were
rushed 10 completion uuu an were cared
for The epidemic OF plague practically
ceased with the great fire. only isolated
and sporadic CasgE occurring among those
who had most iik.ly -GTrt ptlJiDu-iy left
TIL infected district
10 relieve the distress rUCas-guoi Dog
these uulJrtuult, events. Jl- executive
sought 20 have tua losses determined.
with the intention Of ultimate settlement
and b. yu.lt ~ our political status Waz
H. Transition and without legislative
power. the President gf the United State
was asked 10 authorize the appointment
OF commission. VINO were 10 hear ana
sdJuuIgat- these claims. Ills sanction
hINIE- been obtained. the commission
Was selected and organized, but the COuu-
eli OF state. the only body having power
~ that time 20 appropriate money. DE-
ciinrd 10 DO SO. The commission then add
tJurusd without having accomplished Its
purpose.
The Territorial Legislature passed an
aC: entitled. An act rD proy!d, Tor lh.
ascert aiUmsut and payment OF all claims
property was destroyed by fire iu the
years A d. 1879 and 1900 under orders 81
The board ri health which was approve "a
April ~. 1901. The commissioners were
Immediately appointed. ana the reception
% claims soon followed Up 10 the writ
Ing of -his report. August y. 1851 6.Js-
claims. amounting 20 &852 4Jls2. have
been filed The commission has the conf
denCc 81 the community. and has been
81 almost constant session since is ap-
pyirtmcEt, with the expectation that the
conclusion VIII De reached by the end of
The present year These claims vary
greatly ID amount. some being FOR fcw