The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-04-22
HAWA|I'S JAPANESE
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Certain contractors. who nave sub
mitted propositions to US have pro-
ceeded on the theory that the govern
ment could furnish free - Insportation
to and from the isthmus tor Iaborers.
That we are unable to do. Dthers have
figured that the Panama rsiiroad would
transport free of charge the supplies
for those laborers. landei az the ports
on the Atlantic or PaC:tc side of the
isthmus. But if We graf free trans
portation to contractors for labor we
shall be pressed to grant free trans
portation for practically everything
and it does not seem to rs wise TO al
low that
TAFT'S VISIT.
The preparations for Secretary Tafts
party, which is to visit the Philippines,
are now well towards. completion As
the purpose of the trip is clearly to
help along the campaign for free trade
in sugar and tobacco. to which the
President and Secretary Taft are thor
oughly committed, the Hawaiian au-
thorities can not take a lively interest
in the voyage. However the party will
stop a Honolulu going. as already
noted. and as many of them will re-
turn by the same route Honolulu will
see something OF the visitors on their
way home
Surgeon General Wyman stated to-
day that he had written Governor Car
ter that he intends to visit the islands,
probably early III June.
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Postmaster General Cortelyou has
considered the question of installing
rural free delivery in Hawaii and the
Philippines. The matter has not reach
ed any definite stage yet but the Post
master General is somewhat friendly
to the idea. Probably his preference
would be to install routes first in Ha-
wall as the people there have strong
er claim to consideration than the peo-
pie of the Philippines. Some months
ago an application for rural free deliv-
cry in the islands was turned down.
The present attitude of the new Post
master General, however, should be
noted by people of Hawaiian commu-
mites who want rural delivery. 1t might
not be amiss for them to forward petit
tons here. asking for the establish
ment oe routes
The present arrangement in the De-
partment is for applications to be act
ed upon in the order they are made.
1t is rare that routes are established
except for 100 houses or more, located
on country roads within "a distance of
approximately 20 miles. Inspectors of
rural free delivery are assigned to the
investigation of applications for the
establishment of routes
The advantages of the service to peo-
pie residing in the country are conced-
ed. although the service is hedged
about by strict regulations. The carrier
passes once day. delivering as well
as collecting mail. The Department
has well defined plans for the erection
of mail boxes along the main line of
travel that facilitates this work. Be
cause of the general intelligence of the
Hawaiian people and the ability of
nearly all the people to read and write,
rural routes should prosper and prob
ably could be maintained at compare
lively small expense. There is no cost
to the patrons of route for the free
delivery service. 1t is entirely gratu-
ity on the part of the government,
which has to bear whatever extra ex-
pense there happens to be.
MIDWAY BIRD LIFE.
The State Department has announced
receipt of assurances from the Japa-
nese government that it will aid in
preventing japanese from despoiling
the bird life in the Midway Islands
The information has been conveyed to
the Interior Department, which has
kept a surveillance over those matters.
Secretary Hitchcock is highly pleased
at the efforts of the japanese govern
ment in this regard.
GUATEMALA COFFEE.
A report from Consul General Alfred
a. Winslow, at Guatemala City. Qua
temala, dated January 81, on the Qua
tamala Coffee crop of 1904. has just
reached the Department of Commerce
and Labor. 1t says:
THE coffee crop in Guatemala for |
1904. the harvest of which is just fin |
ished, has not come up to expectations,
owing to the very heavy rains late in |
the season knocking many of the ker-
nels from the trees.
The quality is we'll up to the aver
age. In the Santa Maria belt the
quantity and quality of the crop far
exceeded the yield for many years
past. This was the result of the vol