The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-11-12
THE RAT
A SERIOUS
MENACE
Board of Health
In Militant
Mood.
MEETING WITH
BUSINESS MEN
A Large Sum Wanted at Once
to Save the Port From
Infection.
. ONTINUED prevalence of plague
in Oriental ports in direct COM

- ONTINUED prevalence Of plague
in Oriental ports in direct COM
mercial touch with this city,
brought together at the Board of Health
Office last night representatives of every
large local shipping house together
with Federal and Territorial officials, to
devise ways and means to abate the
danger OF Infection by rats. The danger
which threatens this port was demon
strated by such able men as DR.. E. c.
Cofer. chief of the Federal quarantine
service here, and DR.. Cooper of the
Board OF Health. and instances were
cited which may result in concerted ac-
tiOn today or this week to raise the
sum OF $4,000 amongst the business
houses to improve the wharves accord
ing 70 the plans Of Assistant Superin-
5endent Campbell OF the Public Works
Department, in such a manner that they
can be fumigated at least once month
and perhaps oftener, and thus destroy
the swarms OF rats which are to De seen
every night along the waterfront.
The meeting was one of the most i'm
pOrtant held in Honolulu in the past
year to discuss health measures for the
safety OF the city and it's shipping in
terests. and definite plans were broach-
ed for equipping every square foot of
the wharfage in such a manner that the
space underneath may be fumigated.
DR.. Cofer volunteered the services OF
the employees OF his department for do
ing the work os fumigating. on condi-
tion tina. the sulphur be supplied him
for that purpose.
The shipping men are confronted with
a financial problem of raising the $4,000
by subscription among those especially
-Jterested in the safeguarding of their
commercial connections with other
ports. The Board of Health last night
declared itself absolutely without funds
with which to meet any emergency ne
cessitating the sudden protection Of the
health OF the community, and the Board
- Public Works an7oIucei a sici.lar
financial stringency. This left the prob
lem entirely in the hands of the COM
mercial houses. and they will meet this
morning at the Office of Castle & Cooke
10 consider the matter. Superintendent
Boyd and Assistant Superintendent
Campbell had planned to leave for Ha-
wall today, but il it becomes impera-
tive that both should remain in Homo
lulu 10 look after the proposed wharf
improvements they will do so, much de-
pending on the outcome Of the meeting
this forenoon. 1t was also estimated
that the running expenses per month
for fumigating the wharves will be in
the neighborhood of $500 or $500, for sui
phur alone, the apparatus being sup
piled by the Quarantine Department.
At the meeting last night there were
Of
the Board OF Health. who presided; DR..
=. c. Cofer. Federal Quarantine; Super
intendent Boyd and Assistant Superin-
tendent Campbell, OF the Public Works
Department; Fred. Whitney, Oceanic
steamship Company: George Dennison.
superintendent Oahu Railway Company
and its Wharves; e. L. Wight, president
WiIder's Steamship Company: John
McLain, Inter-Island steam Navigation
Comgany; George Robertson. Brewer &
Co; Captain Clarke. superintendent
wilders wharves; J. F. Humburs.
HackfeId & Co; George Davies. TheO. /
II. Davies & Co; J. \. Gilman. Castle
& Cooke: Executive officer Pratt OF ths
Board OF Health
Dr. Cooper called the meeting to or
der and spoke Of its objects as fol- |
lows
at a recent meeting Of the Board OF /
Health Dr. Pratt and myself We're ap-
pointed a committee, and DR. Cofer. OF I
the United States Marine Hospital 1
service was invited to join the COM
mfttee to act with us in suggesting /
y.avs and means for the determination Z
.f rats Plague is reported on the in |
crease in the Orient. and with ports in .
1r1s-raIfa and on the Mainland being I
i4rortcd- the geographical position or I.
Honolulu is indeed a hazardous one. I
THE proposed line Of steamers from !
Panama viii also open the way FOR I
,-aIlovy fever. which scourge, II any
thing. is far worse than plague
..rf is contended that If all the rats