The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-10-25
THE PACIFIC
Commercial A6berttser,
OCTOBER IS


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25.
TIM Honolulu WATER WORKS from first to
last, have proved an excellent investment and 4
source of large revenue to the Hawaiian Govern
ment. In former years, the remark has not in
frequently been made by country members of the
Legislature that Honolulu got more than her
share Of the public revenue laid out on internal
improvements but somehow the Honolulu dele
CATION never seemed to have remembered that
they could retort to the effect that the Water
Works alone were paying into the Treasury some
Sl2,O 900 per annum on an average, over expenses.
yThe first reservoir was built about the year 1850.
but it was not until 1856, or perhaps Il year
later, that pipes were laid of sufficient size to
accommodate the inhabitants. previous to that
time our dependence was on wells for water for
domestic purposes, and that procured from the
wells in some localities was excellent, and noted
softness.) 1t is safe to say that for over
fifteen years then, the Government has been in
the receipt of more than ten thousand dollars per
annum from the Water Works of this city.
Allowing their first cost 10 have amounted to fifty
thousand dollars, the Treasury has been the
gamer by the sum of over one hundred thousand
dollars, through the sale of water rates in this
city. We make no account of the receipts from
water sold to shipping since the year 1850, rs we
have no data on the subject,-it must have
amounted to 4 pretty large sum however. In
view of these facts it Will appear that the Gov
eminent has been in the enjoyment of a very
pretty monopoly in the Water Works. The high
rates charged from the beginning have been
maintained all along through the years, without
any regard to the fact that the works had been
long ago dOubly paid for, and that the cost of
managing and keeping them in repair has never
exceeded if it reached one quarter of the receipts.
Latterly, the pipes have been extended to new
localities, calling for 4 larger supply of water,
for which the reservoir is inadequate. but although
consumers are cut short of the usual quantity Of
the necessary fluid, there Is no reduction in the
rates demanded. Had these Water Works been
in the possession Of 4 private company, and
managed Us they have been by the Government,
what an cutlery we should have heard long ago
about an injurious monopoly, outrageously taxing
us for one of the necessities of life, But this is
Just what our Government has been doing for
nearly twenty years past
And in view also of the large revenue already
absorbed by the government lrSn TINS source,
and of the sure income to be expected in the
future. it is but the just and fair due OF this city
that it should be amply protected against fire, by
the speedy construction Of 4 new and sufficiently
large reservoir. located ut an altitude that will
ensure I powerful head Of water. Not by any
good management OF carefulness of ours, but only
Proyidentially, we have escaped without a single
fire deserving the name. for these many years,
while every succeeding year as the city becomes
more closely built up with wooden structures
our liability to i sweeping e~onHagration becomes
more apparent and alarming. And what is our
state of preparedness for meeting this very posi-
bic contngency-this impending emergency?
Given Z brisk trade wind and n fire commencing
On Beretania street near Nuuanu, our go, 900
reservoir Composing it to be full, which it
isl would be drained to its last drop in n
hort time, and then the fire fent would march
without let or hindrance from one end Of the
itv To the other. while our iiremen wonld he