San
Francisco May 24th 1900
Jos. O. Carter Esq.
Honolulu
My dear Mr. Carter -
I
have your two letters of 9th inst. and 15th inst. respectively; and in
the first place congratulate you upon the release from quarantine and
the resumption of the usual course of business.
I
am pleased to know that there has been noticeable improvement by the Principal
at Kamehameha Manual and that the Schools are full.
There
is evidently a "boom" in real estate and plantation stocks in
Honolulu, not a boom probably likely to lead to excess and injury: but
I think it a favorable time for leasing and selling if one wishes
to sell. The properties on dry land will be in demand without effort and
I would like to see new parties more interested in the low lands regarding
which there is at times more or less of complaint, and about the improvement
of which the B. of Health and others are not always reasonable. I think
that the Trustees have lately valuable exchanges and leases for the Estate,
having had many things to consider, and that the sale to and agreement
with Mr. Alex. Young are quite advantageous.
Were
there opportunity for diversity of employment on a pretty large scale
either in agriculture, manufacturing in any or all of the islands, I could
easily believe that Honolulu, with its advantages of harbor etc. would
become quite a populous city. But as sugar planting now seems to be
the only large industry promising tempting returns, I am slow to believe
that there will be any large city in the Territory. The canal and cable
will in time be accomplished facts; many vessels will call on their way
across the Pacific; tourists will stop over; the sugar business will support
a goodly number; and Honolulu will continue to be the chief city of the
group. But all this put together, with the natural advantages of climate,
scenery, etc. etc. is not enough to attract and support a large
population of white people. I rejoice in all the real improvement and
I trust that those who may live there and control will see to it that
the most important things shall have the greatest and best attention.
The decision in the
Rooke case does not surprise me but I wish that it had been the other
way, for the sake of the Hospital.
I
am hoping that the natives will in political affairs side with their old
kamaaina friends, those who have done something for them besides talking
and who do really care for their welfare; and not decide to go by
themselves and form a third party. There is danger of their being misled
and used by blatherskites of their own race and of the various stripes
of haole.
While
the country
remains a Territory -which I hope will be many years to come, there will
be no attempt to establish a lottery or public gambling house. But it
will be necessary to constantly guard against plague, cholera and other
diseases common in the Orient.
I am writing to Mr.
Damon and to Mr. Allen, and so you may hear more of my manao that is necessary.
There
being no hope of improvement in Mr. Judd's health or condition one can
hardly wish for a prolongation of life. It is a very sad ending of a good
life.
Major
Hooper has his house full and keeps busy most of the time but is not as
well and able to work as he was a few years ago. By , good care and great
regularity of habit I keep pretty well but tire easily. '
With kind regards
to all your family, I remain,
Yours
very truly,
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