The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-04-15
H WAT P

Many years of walls ,ble time have been wasted
in visions of an increased water supply to NEE
the growing necessity q this city; but, after all TIN
talk based upon the acknowledged need that ha!
been echoed from administration to administra.
ton, we have to-day, as q measure of the exer.
ton expended to accomplish this important end.
the same reserve of supply that we had fifteen
years ago, and not extended by one cubic foot. This
will seem rather an odd statement, when we con-
slider the immense pecuniary benefit derived by
the government from the Water Works, leaving
altogether out of consideration the question OF
necessity and accommodation to the public.
The annual receipts, over and above the current
expenses of the Water Works, is about twelve
thousand dollars, meaning an annual profit of
about sixteen per cent. on the original invest
ment; and constituting one of the most profta-
bic enterprises our government has ever entered
into.
1t is time, after SO much ~proftless elaboration
that the government should awaken itself, not
only to the existing necessity, but to action, by
which that necessity shall be Immediately sup
piled, as the growing scarcity of our water sup
ply is significant of alarming possibilities in the
way of confiagrations, foretastes Of which have
been more than once experienced lately. I'M
mense draughts have recently been made upon
our already soanty supply in the way of pipes,
extending far out on to the plains, and in an OPP
posite direction also, which have so m~itigated the
force of the water in town, as to have proved a
serious hinderance to the e~xertions of our fire
companies in more instances than one, where
buildings have been burned to the ground before
water could be procured.
Were it a question of pure expense without
the possibility of q remunerative return, there
might be some ground at this particular ~iuncture
to excuse a slight delay; but as such is not the
case. and as the security of property should in
any case be a paramount consideration, we hope
that the government may be induced to take de-
cided measures to increase the sources of our
water supply, and that at no very distant period.
Otherwise there should be an immediate stop
put to the opening of new taps that are now
coming extensively into demand upon the plains,
as this region is becoming thickly settled. But
to do this, would be to check the very spirit of
enterprise of which this settling is the symptom,
and which it ought to be our most earnest en-
deavor to foster and to aid.
But now comes the question as to how our
water supply can be increased. Various plans
nave DeSn pIOpOsSu " lLIS GIuJ duIOuS "ulCH
were, to introduce into the main pipe one from
the Kunawai' springs; and to bring water from
Manoa valley is another, each having had their
earnest advocates; but each having been alike
rejected without the public, who are most inter
ested, knowing the reason why.
Upon this branch of the subject however we
will touch further on, intending to eonfne our
selves at present TO the existing works and some
questions connected with their supply.
And in the first place, of course we know it
would be useless to increase the capacity of our
present %cistern, if it be impossible from the
state of the valley stream even now to
keep it full. But this brings us to still another
phase of the question, which it would not be
well to pass over without consideration; and
that is, the yearly increasing diminution of the
valley stream owing to the denudation of the
hills above of the forests which once clothed
,t251 I'm Cor. Of nug and