The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-02-13
DELIGHTED WIT HAWAII.
Thomas E. Balding Enjoyed His
J Winter Trip to Honolulu,
CHARACTERIZATION
Milwaukeean was Present When the Pa
ciic Telegraph Cable Reached Sand
witch ,Islands-People Rejoiced.

:. = $50 ' TO- - $E&
Thomas E.. Balding of the Northwest
ern Mutual Life Insurance Company,
with his wife, returned to their home in
Milwaukee recently from their visit to
the Hawaiian islands, where they went
on a winters pleasure trip and to visit
two Of their sons, who are located there
in business. ~
Recommends the Trip. III
Mr.. Balding stated that as, a re-
suit of his trip ne intended to advise
friends who wanted to know, where 10
go for a winters outing of real benefit
and rare experience and pleasure, to take
the one to Hawaii. ut is one of the
most delightful trips possible to imagine,
as well as being one full OF interest and
wonder from start to fnish," declared
Mr.. Bald;ng., ''The very best of steam
journey from San Francisco on one Of
these is a most delightful one"
MI. Balding was in Honolulu at the
time OF the completion of the American
cable, which for the first time in their
existence placed the Hawaiian islands in
side world. For that reason the in
auguratlon Of cable Geographic COM
!munlcatlOn was made an event of reioic-
ing. While it was a business event of
interest and Importance to the United
States, it was to. the people of Uncle
Sans newly acquired possession one Of
the greatest epochs in their history.
Attended the Gable Celebration.
They held a great" celebration in hon
or of the event." said Mr.. Balding. an
the early evening a grand display ,of fire.
works was given, followed by a public re-
ceptlon and rejoicing, given by the act
ing governor, Henry e. Cooper. This
was an important gathering, which I had
the pleasure of attending. 1t was a gala
day throughout, and the progressive peo-
pie of those islands made the most of an
event to them SO fraught with meaning
and Importance"
During their stay Mr.. and Mrs. Bald.
ing spent the first week after their ar
rival, i'll the middle of November, at Hon
cember, and in the interim they visited
the larger island of the group, on which
the city of Hilo is situated.
The natives are up-to-date in many
things that we would not expect of them,
and they are already Americanized to q
great degree. In Honolulu are to be
seen elegant, modern buildings, some
>A"~A ~ eAC UCoC SIOIcS u Ue lOuuu any.
where in a city of 10000 in this coun-
try; large and modern stocks of goods;
fine residences, a splendid system of cleo
trlc lights, and a street railway over
which l rode in cars Of a better grade
than are to be seen in Milwaukee. I do
not mean that all their street cars are:
of this high standard, but some of them
are better than our own. -
Beauty of the Foliage.
"'The foliage is something which an
peals to the American visitor first of
all: 1t is simply marvellous for growth
and beauty. Everything is of a rich,
dark green-not an autumn green like we
see here-but a bright, fresh green that
can't help but attract your attention and
call forth enthusiastic admiration. Then
there are the flowers; fruits in album
dance, and almost everything in the veg
etable kingdom, It is something delight
full: The principal cities have the best
OF hotel accommodations, and in Honolu-
to date in every sense, with another and
much larger one-Young's-nearing COM
pletion. Everything in that city is Amer
lean in appearance, while the people all
speak our language. fuently and fire.
quently. There are now a good many
Americans in the islands who are pros
porous and satisfied. My sons informed
us that they would not think of return
ing to this country to live. They reside
at Hilo, one on a sugar plantation and
the other engaged in electric servicxl X
being interested in a company thea4
Volcano is Interesting.
II should certainly advise every one
OF my friends who intended making the
trip to be sure. and visit the natural
wonder Of the islands-the volcano on
Mt. Hawaii-about three miles distant
from the hotel in the city. This volcano
IS more or less active a greater portion
OF the year, the active crater being the
small one inside the main, or old, one,
and consequently being. harmless as far
as dangerous eruptions are concerned. I
believe a visit to this wonder, night or
day, is worth the trip from this coun-
try alone, to say nothing of the other
attractions of the entire journey from
San Francisco. I should certainly not
miss it under any circumstances.
Il found the people of the islands
feeling much more cheerful and, better
satisfied since Uncle Sam became sponsor
for them. While, a few years back, the
sugar business had been a. little low. It
is now improving and the great sugar {
raisers and dealers look for much better
times and better general conditions. As
sugar is their staple it is necessary for
1t to be up in order to insure prosperity
in the islands. The conditions, as far
as l could see, seem most favorable
there. I am asked by all my friends
about the temperature on the islands.
there being a belief that it is too hot
for comfort The average Temperatures
is from 20 to IS. One day last 4 6
reached 88. but this was an unusual de-
gree and was the warmest the people
had experienced in years. It has been
down as low as IS. but these are the nm
usual extcemea of temnerafun-R S To "a q