The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-05-02

GlflcS. such has never been our position 3,
but what We have always contendei for. are,
and have been. the utmost freedom in our for
ei.n commerce., with low duties. say mr. per
cent. OF Fix per cent. at the outside, all goods
70 be placed on the sans footing.
To return 10 the financial exhibit-the sum
Of S54.7I5 appears to have been expended in
the last twelve months tor public improvements.
During the spring ana summer of 1850, the
dredging of the harbor and extension OF the
Esplanade were the principal public works in
progress hut since the arrival of the water
pipes in December last. these have been >u>-
pended, and the new water works prose
cuted with yigor. II gives u pleasure to no
tice the progress Of this really valuable - i'm
proyemeut," now nearly completed, for when
finished. il must reflect credit on the govern
ment. at the same time that It Will prove d
boon 10 our city. The old water works were
constructed in $3.50. and cost about SIS. 600.
The pipes used were four inches in diameter,
and in many Of the streets one and two inch
lead pipes were laid down. The supply ofwater
was thus consequently very small, and the
number of persons allowed to use it was re-
stricted 10 about two hundred. The demand,
however. for an increase of water has been so
urgent that the government undertook to con-
st-uct new works. which were planned on
such a scale as Is thought Will amply supply
the city and shipping for many years. OF as
long rs the pipes may last. These pipes are
of east iron. and were ordered from Scotland.
where they were cast expressly for this gov
eminent, and were all thoroughly tested be
fore being shipped. Their cost. including the
freight, has been about S2s 600
\ receiving reservoir 30 by 100 feet, has been
constructed a few hundred yards above the site
Of the old one. and nearly opposite the resi-
dence of ThoS. Brown, Esq, capable of holding
about 100000 gallons. This is built of solid
stone masonry. the walls being from five to sew
en- feet in thickness, and the whole being below
the level of the ground. renders it more dura-
bic than if it had been constructed. rs res
eryoirs generally are, wholly above ground. The
supply of water Is now obtained from several
springs, one of them being the same as that
formerly used to supply the city, but the prin-
cipal one Is that kown as KaIena spring, near
the kapena falls, and distant from the reservoir
about 1000 feet. TO connect these, the govern
ment has been ut considerable expense, first in
purchasing a right of way from the natives
owning the land along the river bank, and then
in grading 4 track to lay down the pipe. \
portion of the route has been very difficult 20 con-
struct, requiring considerable skill in engineer
ing, and q great deal of heavy blasting through
solid rock. This heavy Job is not Yet completed,
probably will be during the present month.
When finished. having a level grade of six or
feet wide. it will furnish a pleasant walk
or promenade to the falls. Kapena spring gush-
es out from a crevice of The solid precipice
composes the sides of the gorge below
the falls. and furnishes as pure and delicious L
of water as was ever obtained for any
,itv. \ large cistern is constructed near the
.pring with Il water-gate to allow the surplus
to escape, and from this a five inch pipe
conveys the water to the reservoir, located 1000
eet down the valley.
From the reservoir, the water flows through
twelye-inch main down Nundnu avenue, a dis
ance of over c 1000 feet, to the water-side. The
,Ottom of the reservoir has an elevation of nine
v-one feet above the wharf where the water
ischarges into the sea, which elevation is
efficient to carry it to the top of the highest {
in Honolulu, or to throw fountain !
cts forty or fifty feet high. From this main I
,ipe, fve-inch branch pipes run through all
he cross streets, and these again are con :
ected by four-inch pipes, through the streets +
INNING parallel with Nuuanu, all the princi- j
al crossings having gates by which the water y
IN readily be shut off from any street or section I
{ the city, when in case of fire it is needed in II
part, or when it is necessary to shut it p
I for repairs. Throughout the town there Will a
e forty-four of these gates. Numerous ny Il
rants are also provided, which having coup
ngs fitted to each. can at any time be attached =,
the hose of the Engine Companies. and thus :;
ID greatly in extlnguishing fires. We have /
yeral times alluded to the great force of the y
of the MIGRANTS, it on one occasion having W
a stream through f~iity-feet of hose over +,
e Makee building, which is three stories or IA
,out fifty feet in height. OF these hydrants II
ere are seyenty-eight distributed through the W
IT,. The entire length of water pipe laid down in er
e city, including that from Kapcna spring, will W
{ be less than seven and a half miles. The P
are laid as far a. the prison TO the North,
d to about the residence of Mr.. Castle in the
direction, and are carried, we believe, y.
all the streets, wherever there are -
g
This public work will be one of great value ~
the health and prosperity of Honolulu, and
e money spent appears to have been judi +
.usly and economically expended. 1t will
Il, when completed, not far from $4,000
Guiding the pipes but even with this large ~
tlay, it must prove a p~roJit0bb Investment to Oh
government, producing Il steady and reliable d
.enue of not less than $4,000 or $4,000 per -
1t Is estimated that the springs con- =;
ting with the reservoir, Will supply about
1000 gallons every twenty-four hours. and 18
It the demand for the city viii average $4,000 IN,
Ions per day. which will allow a large sur tn,
s for eIncrsencIes, such as fires, or extra sup
Is for shipping in the fall. In case Of FIRE, att
luding the supply in the reservoir and main cal