The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-10-18
LITTLE HINT FROM BOYD
Asylum May bo Moved Later But at
Present the Rock-Cusher Ccases
Operations.

"Gf we could only get special session
of the legislature and ~. some appro-
priations for the purpose. we could
move The asylum away from the rock
crusher' said Superintendent of Public
Works j. ~. Boyd yesterday at the
meeting of the Board of Health He
sat close beside Governor Dole. who had
come with Boyd To discuss the rock
difficulty.
The Governor gave no sign that be
heard the hint, making no reply To-
Boyd's remark He did, however, dis
cuss the matter of a new site for the
asylum with the members of the board.
The general opinion was that there
should be a much larger site. and the
asylum will probably be moved. I'm the
meantime, however the rOck-Crusher
is 10 cease operations. and the Governor
and Boyd will confer with the Bishop
Estate as to "a new site for the rock
crusher. not far from where il is. but
far enough so that the crazy people Will
not be able to hear 10 working.
When the meeting began, the Cover
nor superintendent Boyd, Treasurer
Wright and the members Of the Board
of Health. President Sloggett. Drs.
Moore and Cooper. T. a. Mott-Smith.
Executive officer Pratt and Superinten-
dent Of the Leper settlement Reynolds
were present ANNINAhilN Nhli' iiiAf.AA
dent Of Public Works Marston Camp
bell came later. Or. SloPoett stated the
object of the meeting as follows:
Gentlemen: The superintendent OF
Public Works having notified me that
Governor Dole and himself were de-
sirous of meeting our Board TO discuss
the matter of the rock crusher,' in
accordance with your instructions /
informed Superintendent Boyd that this
Board would be pleased to meet Coy
ernor Dole and himself at our regular
weekly session, TO be held here this ar
ternoon. SO l will now ask the Gov
ernor as senior official of the govern
ment, TO give US his views as o~- Board
has already plainly stated their view
and made the request to the Superin-
tendent Of Public Works that the rock
crusher and blasting operations carried
on mauka Of the Asylum, must cease al
once to avoid farther mental injury and
distress to the inmates under treatment
there"
In response the governor stated his
view. He inclined to the opinion that
the rock-crushing was not doing much
harm to the inmates Of the asylum. He
hoped that some satisfactory arrange
ment could be made, and said that IL
would be a good thing If the asylum
were moved to a site where there would
be larger grounds. The blasting was
certainly a bad thing. but the governor
thought that by modifying operations,
blasting deeper and a bit farther away
from the asylum. the trouble could be
avoided. He said that Drs. Walter and
Herbert is response to his questions,
had said that there had been no prac-
Teal injury to any patients.
The governors view appeared to be
decidedly against the stand taken by
the Board. Dr. Sloggett read from
walters letter TO the board some eX-
tracts which informed the Board that
amy person Of common sense could
see the harmfulness of the operations
near the asylum
Mott-Smith and Cooper took part in
the discussion. insisting that the rock
crusher was doing harm. Boyd appear
ed to be reluctant to admit that the in
mates of the asylum were being much
harmed When 1t came to a show down
however. he deferred TO the opinions OF
the doctors. and gave them the desired
assurance, in the following language:
Under the conditions. and consider
ing that the patients of the Insane Asy-
ium are the wards Of the public. are as
children who have TO be taken care or
and the rock-crusher Is I'm the opinion
OF the medical profession detrimental 10
the welfare Of these patients and feel
il to be the duty OF every government
officer TO do everything in his power Ia
prevent anything which would do them
harm in any way. as government off,
Ger / give you my assurance that the
operation of the rock-crusher shall
cease"