The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-05-16
and Internal Improve
mcntS.

mcnts.
While the Legislature is literally voting away
the public income, increasing salaries beyond the
legitimate calls of the public servic. while it pro-
poses To vote a large sum for steam subsidies. and
for a palace, and n still larger one for the military,
the great and vital necessity of providing good
roads throughout the country should not be over
looked nor underyalued.
Ii Is one of the chief duties of every govern
ment to open good thoroughfarcs through the va
TiOus sections Of the country, that travel may be
facilitated, AMI the farmer and producer get his
produce To market without incurring delays and
expenses that consume its value. Here is one of
the great drawbacks we labor under-it casts -
much to get produce To market, owing mainly to
poor roads, harbors and convcyances, that there
Is ltElc or no incentive to increased labor in the
more remote sections.
Every session of the Assembly brings scores of
petitions from each of the islands, but more cspe-
eially from Hawaii, praying for improved roads.
These documents are formally referred to a Com
mittee, and in too many instances are reported
hack with the simple suggestion that they be laid
on the table till the appropriation bill is taken up.
Thus the matter is deferred, and when the bill
Comes mp it is found that 50 many extras have al
ready been inserted in it and passed, that it is too
late to entertain any motion for increased rad
expenditures.
Thus the people OF Maui have been compelled
to tramp, tramp. tramp for thirty years over an ex-
ecrabie amouniain rad, when the judiciuus expen-
diture ola few thousand dollars would have opened
n nearly level road around its base, connecting
Lahaina by n good cart road with the fertile Wal
i -. - 4 ali - =. -.
Maui. The TOAD made recently from Maalaea
bay to McGregor's landing, shows what can be
done and also furnishes data for the cost. Two
or three miles more of similar work will connect
Lahaina and East Maui. For this new work,
whatever appropriation may be required should
lie voted ut once.
But Hawaii, more than any other island, needs
the vigorous aid and assistance of the Govern
ment. Tie whole mountain district Of that large
~island-frcm kau To kohaia, from Kohala to Ha-
makua, and from Hamakua to Hilo and Kau-
half a million acres, more or less-is n bcauti-
ful. healthy and exceedingly productive belt, ca
pable Of sustaining a population of half a mill
ion. l., its present condition, almost inaccessible
from bad roads, it i virtually n terra i~noognitG.
Having recently ridden through the lee country
OF Hawaii, from Knhuku TO Kohala, our notes re-
sarding it and the roads there may serve to throw
a little light on this subject, as many of our gov
eminent officers have scarcely Travelled over that
island, and know little or nothing of its wants.
From Kealakekua To Kau the mountain road
runs at an elevation of three OF four thousand
feet. and from two TO five miles from the sea. 1t
j. the same track which has been travelled for
twenty or thirty years, and varies in width from
four 10 twenty feet. In most places, however, it
i little else than a simple horse-path, varying in
roughness from the almost impossible lava Ga TO
the smooth mountain turf, which is met in small
patches.
Over the an streams. which vary from one to
miles in width, the road is 4 disgrace to the
nation. The only exception Is a short line of
some eight miles Of road recently constructed be-
tween Kapua and KaIuku, by the Hon. W. T.
Martin. now a member Of the Legislature. 1t
commenced 10y him, with a width of six feet.
with two more feet on each side FOR the embank-
ment and To strengthen the roadway. This made
the road, really, about ten feet wide, and being
built. and the embankmcnt having sloping
sides, il has well withstOod the late heavy Garth
luakcs. After making four miles Of this broad
gage. he received orders frUm the Interior Depart
Hent to reduce the width to four feet, and the re-
three or four miles u os this width, and
10 narrow that two pack mules can not pass each
We saw an instance where two animals
being unable to Tass, one had TO turn back 70 find
/, placc where De could turn oat OF the rad.
This ..Ienuy-wi-c aud pound foolish system I
marks too many of the roals on Hawaii. where the
Government APPEAR - think that every dollar Z