The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-09-03
CRUSHER
MUST QUIT
Board of Health
and Supt. Boyd
at Odds.
CFrom Saturdays daily)

a very Interesting letter from tine
BOARD of Health. 1t will not be partic-
u,arly brief, but 1t will be to the point
Concisely stated the letter simply
makes a request for the cessation or
noises al the stone-crusher in the vi
cinity of the Oahu Insane Asylum.
The visit OF the Board of Health To
the asylum yesterday afternoon ana the
subsequent conference with Super'n-
tendent Boyd were barren of results. as
far as a compromise was concerned.
Immediate results were al once appar-
ent when the members OF the board
proceeded from the scene of trouble 10
n special meeting, where righteous IN
dignation was poured out, and the res
olution embodied in the letter 30 the
Department of Public Works was drawn
up.
An open clash between the two de-
partments seems imminent, as the re-
moyal of the crusher. in view OF the
state of finances of the Public Works
Department. seems impossible, whiie
the Board OF Health appears determin-
ed to force the issue, on the GROUND
that a material injury is being done the
patients at the hospital, and unless the
noises are stopped 1t Is not unlikely
that the courts will be asked to enjoin
the operation of the quarries.
The visit to the hospital and quarries
was made at o'clock yesterday after
noon. In the party were Drs. SlogEett'
Moore and Pratt, and Messrs. smith
and Aud, and they were met at the
asylum by Superintendent Boyd ana
Assistant Superintendent Campbell
The s.one-crusher has not been in oper-
alton for over a week, but Mr.. Boyd, In
order to accommodate the Board, had
the plant started, and FIVE or six blasts
were fired for the benefit Of the visitors
The result was sufficient for even the
medical men were startled by the LOUD
noises, and the incessant grinding OF
the crusher made every one wish FOR
cotton to use as ear muffs. Superin-
tepdent Master then took the party on
a trip about the grounds, and showed
them where boulders Rad fallen. max
ing big dents in the earth. and also
where rocks struck on the roof, tearing
holes through the framework, which
had been patched at considerable eX-
pense The rocks from the blasts were
sent flying in very close proximity to
the members OF the Board OF Health,
and the buildings could be seen shak-
ing from the force OF the explosion. In
fact. the members Of the Board were
more than satisfied as to the truth OF
the charges made IN Dr. Masters let
ter and some of them were of the opln-
ion that he had not represented the con-
ditons as strongly as should have been
done The effect on the patients when
the explosions occurred were plainly
noted. as some of the inmates became
nervous and excited.
After the Investigations had been
thoroughly made the members of the
entire party repaired to the lanai for a
discussion of the problem. DR.. Sloggett
stated that he was satisfied that some
thing must be done Immediately, as the
existing conditions could not be allow
ed to continue Superintendent Boyd
did not see what could be done; the
crusher could not be removed, and sug-
gested that some other way might be
found out of the difficulty. He stated
that it would cost from s35 900 to $50 OOC
to remove the crushing plant, and the
expenditure of such a sum was clearly
impossible at present He said that the
present quarries We're the best In the
city. and their proximity to the city
made them particularly available.
Ii was seen from the first that the
probability of any amicable settlement
of the trouble was very remote, and the
discussion soon reached point where
absolutely no progress was being made
Finding this TO be the case DIR. Slog.
gett suggested that the only thing tc
do was to act Immediately, and the
members OF the Board OF Health drove
to the offices, where special meeting
was held.
President Slorgett called the meeting
TO order, and lost no time in prelimi-
naries. THE Board is practically at is.
sue with the Public Works Department
over this matter" he said. The ques
ton of expense for removing the crush
er should not be a question for the con
sideration of the Board of Health. Al
guardians of the insane. we must stol
anything that is detrimental to thei
health or disturbing them. My idea 4
to write to the Superintendent of Pub
lie Works and ask him To cease opera
tons at the stone-crusher. You all saw
and heard the blasts there this after
noon, and saw the stones flying ant
buildings shaking. The racket and th'
iIcessant grinding OF the crusher Il
most detrimental not only to the insane
but to well people. and think 1t shoult
and must be stopped"
Or. Moore said: 'In my opinion tn,
condition Of the patients cannot be i'm
proved in the present state of az
fairs, and there is no hope for any OF
them under these circumstances.
think quiet can only be obtained by dis.
associating the quarries and the hospi,
tai. These inmates are no better of
than II they were in a Jail, as they
can't get away from the noise. Mr.
Boyd should be asked TO stop the noise.
at once"
Mr.. Smith said: Il think this is q
very delicate question. The Board doe.
not want to embarrass the Publ,
Works Department. but at the sam,
time we are looking out for the health
Of the people at the insane asylurn II