The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1875-10-20
TFor the Hawaiian 6aEette.l
The Water supply and the Cow
Pasture.


Pasture.
The question of retaining the upper Nuu-
anu Valley from denudation by cattle. would
seem by late articles in the Adra1iser to be
less understood than it should be.
The first point is this. Is the upper valley
de source of the water supply of Honolulu ?
and therefore to be kept in best condition for
furnishing water both abundant and pure? Or
is it not the source, but as the Adrerfiser seems
to imply,is our dependence to be solely on GER
tain springs at the foot of the valley?
We answer that these springs themselves
depend for their water upon the upper valley.
If the capacity of that surface for receiving
and retaining water is impaired, the springs
must be diminished in volume.
But is itnot obvious that these springs are
quite inadequate to the necessities of growing
town-wants steadily augmenting with the
habit of using the water, and with the pro-
gress of civilization, and the growth of improve
ments in houses and gardens. Are We indeed
as the Adrsrtis-r says, to shut down our taps,
and closely communicate stint our grass and
our trees, when every few weeks torrents are
wasted in the sea which ought to be stored in
natures own wilderness reservoir? Is no pro-
vision TO be made for retaining to verdure the
barren skirts of Punchbowl, and the farther
plains whose unequalled fertility lies athirst. ?
Springs indeed
But the Adrsytissr has virtually conceded
our answer by advocating reservoirs above.
which are needless if the springs are adequate.
The second question is, will the removal of
the cattle from the upper valley render the
water supply full and unfailing? Will itpro-
duce the result sought from the artificial res
ervoirs proposed, by restoring a native condi-
ton of the'surface constituting a vast natural
reservoir?
To answer this, we need to ascertain clearly
the change in the surface of the land which has
been wrought by cattle.
Some six hundred head of cattle running for
sixteen years past on the twelve or fifteenhun-
dred acres of land lying for three miles below
the Pail, have totally changed the condition
and character of that surface, as is obvious to
every one acquainted with it formerly and now
They have destroyed the greater part of the
wood and have eradicated the underground en-
tirely, laying the formerly protected surface
entirely open to the sun and the strong trade
winds
At the former period the entire region was covered
BY deep aud lmpenetrable jungle, composed Of rank
mountain vegetation not to speak of the large
tent OF low forest. Now the ground is an open
sward. The jungle is gone. Then it was one vast
sponge, charged everywhere with water lying pure
among the rank heritage and like all such mountain
tracts, 40 impeuetrabe swAuP-a reservoir Of water
as pure as Tahoe, and 10 capacity such as no engi
neering skill or royal measures cOnld construct
Now. it is dry, clear travelling throughout. Our
great reservoir is gone aunihilated by the bpI and
we drink the seanty and not too pure drainage OF
very fne eow-pssture.
1t may be question how far, in peculiarly rain
locality Ike that the Pali forest
clad or denuded conditions of the surface would OPP
crate respectively to attract repe passing showers
as such conditions certainly do operate in ordinary
situations. But they mast operate to some extent.
So wide a surface cannot be left naked to the solar
rays without ACTIVELY beating the air passing it,
and so dissipsting the otherwise raingTing clouds
that drive through the gorge
Bot the chief process eerIainIy in operation is
less familiar TO u.s. but perhaps more exactly aseer-
tanned by scientific analysis than is The one last men
toned. 1t is ths-that evaporation from naked
surface is vastly more rapid than from one clothed
by heavy underground. How much longer the
ground remains damp under thieket than In the
open air. a long and thorough series Of expert
meuts OF late yess in Germany hare resulted 10 de-
ierrniniog the amount of evaporation as follows:
that an open ground being reekoned at 100, the
relative amount under clean forest is 90 but IN Tor
is only IA That is, jungle arrests six
seventies Of the evaporation. This is no mere by
pothesis, bat completely established principle
Ind agrees with, and accounts for the present dry
coalition Ofthe valley compared with its former
vet state
What elects do We thus ind uPOn.o our water sup
ply, from the depasturiHg Of the upper FalIeYl
First The water that once filtered gently but
lbundauiy into the brook keeping II fall and clear
now rapidly drives of into the air, borne away BY
sun- heat and trade wind What the jungle once ar
rested and stored up for continuous use is now lost
in the air. and our stream triekles thin and foul.
Secondly Whenever Aeasy rains fall, the water be-
ng unobstrueted b. herbzge, washes 10 torrents at
1rce into the brook and Is carried into the In a
sudden food. In the native condition Of the land
hese waters remained distributed on the surface to
gradually soak 10 for the benefit Of springs below,