The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-12-07

pIONlueu 10 ueNlSe pans lot plaClnB
the city of Honolulu in permanent
sanitary condition. Many laws of a
comprehensive character we're enacted
on the subjects of sanitation, tubercu-
losis, pure food, and other health mat
tiers. During the year the department
of public health effected much reor-
ganization and extension of its work.
There were two short epidemics of
cholera close together, with 80 cases
and 20 deaths; 2 cases of plague ap-
peared in Honolulu and on the island
of Hawaii. A case of yellow fever APP
peared off port for the first time, but
did not reach shore, where the vel
/ low fever mosquito exists. The year
was a notable one in the investiga
ton of leprosy by the United States
Public Health and Marine Hospital
Service in laboratories and with pa
tents furnished by the Territory The
bacillus of this disease is now easily
cultivated artifcially following the
first such cultivation by Clegg, then
employed in Manila, but now at Homo
lulu, which marks the first great adj
vance in the study of this disease
since the discovery of the bacillus by
Hansen in 1865. General leprosy was
developed also in a monkey, which is
probably the first time that it has been
developed in an animal other than
man, a result which augurs well for
more effective research work in the
flu ure.
One of the most important sub
jects of legislation was that of taxa
ton, especially in connection with
the subject of local governments.
With a view to fixing responsibility
on the county supervisors, making
70 obvious to their constituents the re-
lation between the taxes they pay
| and the benefits they derive in re-
turn, obviating the demoralizing in
!, fiuence of a common money bag and
. averting encroachments on the terri
torial treasury in the supposed inter-
ests of the counties, the sources of
!, revenues were separated and the
: property tax rates were made elastic.
+ The Territory and each county will
e hereafter rest upon it's own independ-
+ ent financial basis with an elestic
7 system of taxation and with the reve-
) nues of each varying according to its
needs, instead of all drawing from
|, common fund produced largely by an
d Iunchanging property tax rate. a
r number of laws were enacted to in
= sure honesty and efficiency in the ad-
:. ministration of county governments.
j. In general attention is now being
t paid more to the perfection than to
$ the extension of local governments.
I For several years comparatively
d little has been done in public work
If and, for that reason as well as be-
J., cause of improved financial condi-
n tions, public works have now been
y provided for to the extent Of about
ID 81, 900 900, to be expended during the
er next two or three years, partly out of
" current revenues and partly out of
ID loan funds These are mainly water
At and sewer works, wharf and harbor
y improvements, roads, and buildings
e. for the library of Hawaii, the college
of Hawaii, the public schools, the in
sane asylum, the prison, hospitals,
q and armories.
81 demonstrating and Conservation.
d Progress has been made in home
m stealing and conservation. While
g. only 172 homesteads were taken up,
b. a great many were surveyed, and
n changes in methods of demonstrating,
supported by a saner public senti-
e ment on this subject, are diminishing
n fake demonstrating for speculative
n purposes. Several demonstration
le farms were established and others
of are contemplated in homestead cen
Is tiers, and arrangements have been
a completed for establishing territor-
e, ial marketing agency in order to in
RS struct and assist small producers as
st to seed, as to times and methods and
ar extent of planting, and as to grading,
ID packing shipping and marketing their
H. produce. The topographic survey of
ar the island of Kauai was completed
Os and work begun on the island of Ha-
II waii. The photographic survey was
Il extended over the four largest is
le lands. Forest reserves were created
is aggregating $1,000 acres, bringing the
ht total up to twenty-five reserves, ag-
I'd gregating 631, 1856 acres. The division
of animal industry conducted a vigor-
a GUS campaign against bovine tubercu-
IT losis with the result that that disease
d. was almost eradicated from dairy
n COWS on the island of Oahu, and will
De soon be practically eradicated from
Of the entire Territory. The division of
rs entomology has extended its work,
ne but has met with one of the greatest