| San
Francisco August 22, 1899
Jos. O. Carter Esqr.
Honolulu
My dear Mr. Carter -
Your
letters of the 28th inst and 7th inst both came duly to hand. I have presented
your regards to Maj. Hooper as requested and the same is reciprocated.
The Occidental has had a large business during the last year and
more and lately has been literally overrunning full, for guests have been
lodged out. The Maj. and his force have worked hard and well.
Dr.
Hyde writes me that his health is "improving slowly" and that
he hopes to return at the end of Sept. and that he has engaged a teacher-
Mr. Beardslee -for the manual, who should be here to go hence on the 25th
inst.
I
am sorry to hear such reports about the health of Mr. Justice Judd. Probably
fear and mental worry is not the least of his trouble. Change of scene
may do him much good.
I
am weak, but"not sick and attend to business daily.
The
accommodation to be made for the Kamehameha Alumni Assn. is very liberal
in extent and terms. Six per cent on a new wooden building is a low rent.
I
am thankful that the trustees have not undertaken to carry out all
of Miss Pope's recommendations as to expenditures.
It
is a pity that the published report of the trustees to the Court should,
for lack of explanation, give such decided misinformation. The extravagant
amounts stated as Receipts and Expenditures during the year, are misleading,
and I fear injurious to the estate.
Teaching
agriculture and horticulture is undoubtedly a good thing for the
boys when properly done, as seems to be the case under Mr. Sedgwick, even
though it may be more theoretical and scientific than practical,
but it is not necessary or wise to do much of such farming at Kamehameha,
for it will not pay financially: Just enough for instruction-object
lessons -and to produce things for the use of the schools, is about all
that should be attempted. Such gentle-man-like farming as' makes "milk
cost about the same as champagne" and other things in similar proportions
may not be a very useful object lesson. The Hawaiian farmers will not
have an estate behind them to foot the bills.
Mr.
Sedgwick does not know anything about the lands and condition of the estate
and I imagine that he is not a farmer or has not made his living by farming.
In his report -included in that of Mr. Thompson -he suggests increased
expenses for labor, which should not be adopted, certainly not very soon
if at all. If the "work scholarship" does not and will not do
the work required on the premises, there is need for a change, but not
in the direction of accepting more of it on present terms.
In
Mr. Thompson's report he makes some good and practical suggestions; but
some of his ideas, especially about landscape gardening and ornamentation
of the grounds, are crude and extravagant, but the responsibility for
some of the suggestions does not all belong to him. It is right to have
a definite and reasonable plan to work to, and the improvements can be
made gradually and not with a rush. To make a show is of little
consequence compared with careful management and character building. What
the young people can and will do after they leave the schools should be
kept in mind. --
Mr.
Thompson very properly suggests a little advance in the charge for board
at the Manual. He says $50 instead of $43. Sixty dollars would not be
too much. They should pay the cost of their board at least; all their
kitchen expenses, and for their excursions, sports, and entertainment.
It is a very unusual thing to have doctors, nurses, etc. free. The work
done on the work scholarships is not worth its cost, and increase in that
direction without charge will not be fair to the estate, or to those who
pay in money nor is it best for the boys. Too much petting is a damage.
After
reaching a certain but not uniform limit rents for real estate, (lands
and buildings) rents will falloff and interest for money constantly tends
downward. It is so in Europe and America and it will be so in Hawaii.
Hence an increase in Capital, or a reserve is necessary, for current expenses
seldom falloff, the tendency being the other way, and there will be extravagance
where it is not constantly resisted.
Others
may not see all of these things as they appear to me. I do not expect
that they will, and I do not presume to dictate, for I have no authority
or responsibility, both being lodged in others as conscientious and capable
as I am.
I
am sorry that the Museum is not likely to get any contributions from Kapiolani's
estate as was expected. The princes, her nephews, would honor her and
themselves were they as Hawaiians to behave generously toward the only
Hawaiian museum.
Your's
very truly,
, /s/ Chas. R. Bishop |