The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-14
Deputy Attorney General
CONSIDERATION DEFERRED.


DR.. Cooper suggested that, as the
knocking out of the County Act put
the Board in a different position from
that it held when the opinions were re-
quested, the only thing to be done was
to receive. and file the commu3jca-
tons.
1t was voted, on motion Of
Smith, seconded by DR. Mays, hMMsssa -
communications be received and @FT
deferred until the next meeting Of
Board.
DR.. Cooper reported orally for III
committee on Government physiciaifg
dispensary and subsidized hospitaIs
and Government wash-houses. He
said that on Friday the committee met
with the board of supervisors and held
a discussion that amounted to nothing.
They adjourned till Sunday, when, af-
ter discussion lasting three hourS*san
amicabfe agreement was reached. sTleA
multiplying of the County Act. how
ever, made all of the proceedings use
less The Board would have to re-
sumo its control over the different sub
jects of conference.
CONDITIONS OF CEMETERIES.
DR.. Mays, from the committee on
closing of cemeteries, stated that only
since entering the room had he learn
ed of the fate of the County Act. He
had drawn up a report of the findings
of the committee. but some of them
involved concurrent action by the late
county supervisors. However, perhaps
the Board might like to hear the re-
port for the facts it gave on the pres
ent condition of cemeteries. He had
not seen the Attorney General to OBJ
tain his signature.
The president signed the report at
the meeting, when it was accepted and
placed on file. It reads as follows:
REPORT OF COMMITTEE.
Honolulu, Hawaii Jan II, 1904
To the President and Members of the
Territorial Board of Health.
Your committee appointed to investi
gate the present over-croWded and in
sanitary condition of the cemeteries OF
this city present the following facts
and recommendations:
From the statistics of the Chief SAM !
tary Officer it appears that from Sep |
TENDER 1st. 1908, to December 1st, 1903, |
a period of three months thirty-seven |
collins were disturbed by the grave-dig- |
gers. Some of these collins were |
actually chopped in two and part of |
the remains of their former occupants !
beneath the new coffin.
To dig a grave without disturbing |
another coffin is becoming more and |
more a matter of difficulty. AS many ,
as three and four holes are sometimes |
lug and filled in again. before a spot |
If unoccupied soil can be found.
Some of the cemeteries, wholly or in |
part, lie so close to sea level that by |
he time a grave is excavated TO the
'equired depth of six feet, it will often
De half filled with standing water. In
he past three months. five buriaIs took
place in which the collins were entirely
In such cases it is found
Necessary, before the interment can
)e completed that two men shall
descend into the grave and stand upon
he coffin. one at either end. to weigh
t down into the water until sufficient
arth is thrown on.
Others of the cemeteries are located
n so unyielding a foundation that the
rave must be blasted out with dyna-
mite. 1t is only few weeks ago that.
n the native cemetery at KaIjhi.
cad body REMAINED above ground two
-hOle days, waiting until a grave was
LASTED out of the solid rock.
1t is unnecessary to diIate upon the