The National tribune., 1903-10-01

dread conditions are greatly mitigated by
the kindly care given by the Government
in their support and comfortable mainte-
nance.
F.. THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
There is one feature of the Hawaiian
policy which deserves more attention in
this country, and that is the educational
system. Schools are carefully maintained
and sufficient classification is kept.
School attendance is compulsory by gen.
eral law. Good educators have been i'm
ported from the States, but the chief value
of the school establishment is found in its
English tendency. The native Hawaiian
language has been abandoned in the
schools. and the English tongue is made
the arbitrary medium of all their studies.
This has far-reaching effect which can
be readily understood by those interested
in the progress of American institutions in
the new territorial accessions.
The Hawaiian Islands are
DELIGHTFUL GASES
In the broad Pacific They lie a little
over 1000 miles to the southwest of Cali
fornia. which is, in fact, the nearest of
the enlightened countries bordering upon
the Pacific. AS facilities for steam trans
portation across the Pacific exist at pres
ent, it is about a six-days' voyage from
San Francisco to Honolulu.
There are eight of the larger islands
which compose the group, Of which seven
are inhabited. The area of the group is
about 6,740 square miles. The largest of
these islands, Hawaii. has 4,210 square
miles. The next in size Maui, has 100
square miles. But the most important of
the group is Oahu, which has population
of 10000 and an area of 600 square miles.
The most fertile of the islands. Kauai,
of surface and is called the Garden
Island" because it is abundantly watered
and adapted to the growth of several i'm
portant agricultural products.
For many years, Honolulu, the chief
city. situated upon the island of Oahu, has
been an important port of call for the
great number of ships. including whalers.
sells and others, which have traversed the
Pacific. 1t bids fair now, since it is to
come under the beneficent control of the
United States, to become the principal
commercial point in that broad ocean 5000
miles across. ~
The group takes its name from the larg-
est of the islands, Hawaii. The soil upon
them all is volcanic in character. except
for a very small extent along the coast,
where it is of n coralline formation. Dur
ing the past ages there have doubtless
been innumerable flows of lava from the
different volcanoes. most of which are now
extinct There are remaining at present
on the Island of Hawaii two living vol
canoes. both of which are occasionally ac-
tive. They are both upon one mountain,
Mauna Loa. The greater one in size, Mo-
kuaweoweo, is situated at the top of this
great mountain at hight of nearly IA 900
feet above the level of the sea. The other
one Kiauea, upon the north side of the
same mountain is about 20 miles from
Mokuaweoweo at a point 1000 feet above
the level of the sea. Kilauea, which has
within the last score of years been fire.
quently in eruption, has often been de-
scribed by travellers and others and, be-
cause of the existence Of the so-called
Lake Of Fire. in its crater, has become
somewhat celebrated. On the adjacent
island of Maui is the crater of Haleakala.
the largest extinct crater in the world, be-
Ing nearly 20 miles in extent and half a
mile in depth.
THE SOIL
of all the islands is composed Of lava
Much of this has become disintegrated or
decomposed by lapse of time and now upon
the application of water becomes wonder
fully fertile and productive. Lying only a
few degrees from the equator, in nearly
the same latitude as Cuba, the products
of the soil are all tropical in character, e1-
cept at high attitudes upon the slopes Of
the higher mountains, where the tempera-
ture ranges, according to elevation, from
Summer heat to freezing. The rainfall
varies greatly, according to location, eleva-
tion and prevalent winds. For the larger
part of the year the northeast trade winds
are nearly constant and the precipitation
of moisture from the clouds upon the
windward or northeast side of the islands
Is many times greater than upon the lee
ward side. For instance, upon the wind
"a two places 10 miles apart, the annual rain
fall varies from $50 to 200 inches, while
at Kailua, on the leeward or southwestern
. side of Hawaii, il is about GO inches, and
at Waimea, on the north and west, only 40
inches. At Paia. on the island of Maui,
where there is a profitable sugar plantation
irrigated by artesian water, there is an
annual rainfall of only 30 inches.
At Honolulu the temperature is delight
full, and constitutes a chief attraction to
the American visitor. 1t averages for the
year about y or 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
while the highest is about SO and the low
est about 90. The cooling influence of the
northeast trade winds has the effect of
modifying the temperature of the entire
group, so that there is no really hot wealth
er and no cold weather except on the tops
of the high mountains. The temperature
at sea level is such as to be well adapted
for the growth of sugar cane, rice, and
tropical products generally.
Churches are numerous and church priv
fleges are in most places easily available
THE GOVERNMENT
for many years, even under the King, has
been an excellent enc, and the abuses
> which crept into the administration OF
the Hawaiian monarchs resulted In most
q cases from the improper influences Of
white cOurtiers.
The revolution which resulted in the
establishment of Republic was the natu-
raj outcome Of the attempt to break down
the high civilization which existed, by
pressing degrading measures and acts