Honolulu Iron Works being an up-todate institution, capable of turning out excellent work. The plows and farm implements, as well as the small locomotives on some of the estates, come almost invariably from the United States. Although the soil of the islands is undoubtedly rich and fertile, the demand made upon it by almost continuous cropping without any alteration of crops, renders the use of fertilizing agents a necessity. There are two local factories, which manufacture 10,000 tons per annum. One is of considerable size, making its own sulphuric acid and producing an excellent fertilizer. There is also a large importation of fertilizer from the United States and Europe.

Coal for steamer use, to the extent of 70,000 tons, was imported, principally from British Columbia, Australia and New Zealand; about 700 tons of hard coal for smithy purposes came from the United States.

In cotton goods the United States already has a large proportion of the trade, and a monopoly of boots and shoes, felt hats and the better class of straw hats.

The sugar industry of the islands prospered in 1897, all the plantations paying dividends. Intelligent systems of cultivation are in vogue. The sugar planters have formed themselves into an association, and have established a laboratory and experimental station, from which much benefit has been derived. The crop for the year was the largest yet reached — 251,126 tons of 2,000 pounds. The 1897-98 crop will probably be under this, owing to the dry weather last year. There are fifty-six sugar plantations on the islands.

The cultivation of coffee is extending, but up to the present no large estates have been opened, the area planted heing made up of a number of small

Situated on the south side of the island of Oahu and along Honolulu Bay is Honolulu, the capital, as well as the commercial metropolis, of the Hawaiis. According to the latest census, which was taken several years ago, the population of Honolulu is 29,000, and a heterogenous mass of humanity it ispeople from almost every country and clime are represented among its inhabitants. The city is modern in build; that is, most of the buildings and improvements have been erected in the past forty years, and is modeled much after the American, both in style of architecture and various systems of improvements. In the business portion, brick and stone have been used in

"There are many beautiful homes in Honolulu, and the great number of gardens, parks, shade trees, tropical flowers and various foliages add much to the appearance of the city. There are churches here of many different denominations, and schools, both public and sectarian. We have street car lines, telephone, electric light, water works and sewerage systems, but none of these are up to the American standard of the present day. For instance, take the street railroad — called a tramway' here. On this they use old, batteredup cars, and the motive power is of the primitive kind—mules. For this service they charge double what one would have to pay for similar service in the States. A ride from our camp to the city, four miles distant, costs us ten cents each way, and it generally takes three hours to make the round trip to town and back-rather slow way to travel, for an American. The people here don't seem to mind it; fact is, they never seem to be in a hurry to do anything or to go anywhere.

"There are many beautiful streets and driveways in and about Honolulu. Possibly the finest of these is Waikiki Road, extending from the city along the bay to Diamond Head, four miles distant. Beautiful shade trees of royal palms, banyans, etc., are lined up on either side of the road. On the side next to the beach are located many bathing resorts and hotels. Surf bathing is indulged in by everyone. The natives are the best swimmers, and have a world-wide reputation in this particular line. A familiar sight that can be seen along the water front most any time of the day is little Kanaka boys swimming and diving for coins thrown to them by onlookers, and so

"On the opposite side of Waikiki Road from that on which are located the bathing resorts are several fine parks. Perhaps the finest, as well as the largest, of these is Kapiolani Park, covering about one hundred acres of ground. This park is near our camp, and it is here that we soldiers while away many idle hours, loitering in the shade and listening to the Hawaiian Band. The band has forty players, and is made up entirely of native Kanakas, excepting the leader, who is a white man. This band plays excellently, and would be considered very good in any country. The way they can play many of the American airs would make many of our best bands at home envious. It might be proper to remark here that the natives of these islands are a musical people. There is scarcely one of them who does not play some musical instrument. Guitars, mandolins and okalilis are the ones in most favor.

"At the end of Waikiki Road is Diamond Head, an extinct volcano. Silent as a sentinal it stands today, but in times long past it has been noisy enough, from all accounts and indications. There is much of the early history, legend and romance of these islands associated with old Diamond Head. On a recent Sunday I made a trip up to its summit, sight-seeing. It was rather difficult of ascent, and much more so descending, owing to the steepness of its sides. There are only two paths by which we can gain the summit at all. On top there is a narrow rim or wall sloping inwards toward the crater, in the shape of a basin. There is a lake in this basis, several acres in size.

Honolulu Iron Works being an up-todate institution, capable of turning out excellent work. The plows and farm implements, as well as the small locomotives on some of the estates, come almost invariably from the United States. Although the soil of the islands is undoubtedly rich and fertile, the demand made upon it by almost continuous cropping without any alteration of crops, renders the use of fertilizing agents a necessity. There are two local factories, which manufacture 10,000 tons per annum. One is of considerable size, making its own sulphuric acid and producing an excellent fertilizer. There is also a large importation of fertilizer from the United States and Europe.

Coal for steamer use, to the extent of 70,000 tons, was imported, principally from British Columbia, Australia and New Zealand; about 700 tons of hard coal for smithy purposes came from the United States.

In cotton goods the United States already has a large proportion of the trade, and a monopoly of boots and shoes, felt hats and the better class of straw hats.

The sugar industry of the islands prospered in 1897, all the plantations paying dividends. Intelligent systems of cultivation are in vogue. The sugar planters have formed themselves into an association, and have established a laboratory and experimental station, from which much benefit has been derived. The crop for the year was the largest yet reached-251,126 tons of 2,000 pounds. The 1897-98 crop will probably be under this, owing to the dry weather last year. There are fifty-six sugar plantations on the islands.

The cultivation of coffee is extending, but up to the present no large estates have been opened, the area planted being made up of a number of small

Honolulu of Today.

A correspondent of the LoCOMOTIVE FIREMEN'S MAGAZINE, Mr. John B. Powers, writes an interesting description of Honolulu under date of October 25th. Mr. Powers is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, and is now in Hawaii as a member of Co. K, 2d U. S. Volunteer Engineers, and moreover is a pleasing writer. His letter is reproduced:

Situated on the south side of the island of Oahu and along Honolulu Bay is Honolulu, the capital, as well as the commercial metropolis, of the Hawaiis. According to the latest census, which was taken several years ago, the population of Honolulu is 29,000, and a heterogenous mass of humanity it ispeople from almost every country and clime are represented among its inhabitants. The city is modern in build; that is, most of the buildings and improvements have been erected in the past forty years, and is modeled much after the American, both in style of architecture and various systems of improvements. In the business portion, brick and stone have been used in

"There are many beautiful homes in Honolulu, and the great number of gardens, parks, shade trees, tropical flowers and various foliages add much to the appearance of the city. There are churches here of many different denominations, and schools, both public and sectarian. We have street car lines, telephone, electric light, water works and sewerage systems, but none of these are up to the American standard of the present day. For instance, take the street railroad called a tramway' here.

On this they use old, batteredup cars, and the motive power is of the primitive kind - mules. For this service they charge double what one would have to pay for similar service in the States. A ride from our camp to the city, four miles distant, costs us ten cents each way, and it generally takes three hours to make the round trip to town and back-rather slow way to travel, for an American. The people here don't seem to mind it; fact is, they never seem to be in a hurry to do anything or to go anywhere.

"There are many beautiful streets and driveways in and about Honolulu. Possibly the finest of these is Waikiki Road, extending from the city along the bay to Diamond Head, four miles distant. Beautiful shade trees of royal palms, banyans, etc., are lined up on either side of the road. On the side next to the beach are located many bathing resorts and hotels. Surf bathing is indulged in by everyone. The natives are the best swimmers, and have a world-wide reputation in this particular line. A familiar sight that can be seen along the water front most any time of the day is little Kanaka boys swimming and diving for coins thrown to them by onlookers, and so

"On the opposite side of Waikiki Road from that on which are located the bathing resorts are several fine parks. Perhaps the finest, as well as the largest, of these is Kapiolani Park, covering about one hundred acres of ground. This park is near our camp, and it is here that we soldiers while away many idle hours, loitering in the shade and listening to the Hawaiian Band. The band has forty players, and is made up entirely of native Kanakas, excepting the leader, who is a white man. This band plays excellently, and would be considered very good in any country. The way they can play many of the American airs would make many of our best bands at home envious. It might be proper to remark here that the natives of these islands are a musical people. There is scarcely one of them who does not play some musical instrument. Guitars, mandolins and okalilis are the ones in most favor.

"At the end of Waikiki Road is Diamond Head, an extinct volcano. Silent as a sentinal it stands today, but in times long past it has been noisy enough, from all accounts and indications. There is much of the early history, legend and romance of these islands associated with old Diamond Head. On a recent Sunday I made a trip up to its summit, sight-seeing. It was rather difficult of ascent, and much more so descending, owing to the steepness of its sides. There are only two paths by which we can gain the summit at all. On top there is a narrow rim or wall sloping inwards toward the crater, in the shape of a basin. There is a lake in this basis, several acres in size.

"To the north of Honolulu, and about