The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-07-06
The KaWaihae and Hamakua Railway.

AS We informed our readers several weeks since,
an association of gentlemen personally interested
in the development OF the district of Hamakua,
Hawaii, have employed Mr. C. V. Housman, c. E.,
to make a survey of the proposed route for a rail
way from Paauhau to the port of Kawaihae. We
take pleasure in laying before the public the fol-
lowing interesting and highly satisfactory report
of Mr.. HOusman
Honolulu, July LIST, 1873.
Samuel Parker, Esq, Chairman of the Kawaihae
and HonOkaa Railway Survey.
Sir,-I have now the honor to hand you the
plan and profile of the Trial Line Survey, made
under my direction. from Kawaihae to Honokaa.
The natural difficulties of the island are too well
known to you for me to repeat them here suffice
it to say, that starting from a point but a few feet
above hish-wateT mark at Kawaihae, | had to
ascend to an altitude of 2 ,9O5 feet IN what an air
line would measure but u to Is miles, and to
overcome this rapid ascent it compelled me to
sweep round that portion of country lying between
Kawaihae and Waimea towards the valley separat-
ing the Kona range of mountains and this section
of country, and. as will be seen by reference to the
profile. at grades rising lis to 125 per mile. These
grades are steep for fast running and heavy trains,
but they are unavoidable. in consequence of the
loose, rocky formation of the country, the total
absence of clay and vegetation. which would COM
pei me to reduce all rises to a surface level. Ar
irving now on a fiat, the line will pass through the
Waimea village on a natural formed grade of SO
feet rise per mile. Leaving the village near the resi-
dence of Mr.. Frank Spencer, it enters the vast
grazing lands of the Waimea Plains, following then
the contour line of the Kohala and oWaipio noun
tains. and with an almost imperceptible rising grade
and e~asterly slope we enter the woods for the Ha-
makua Coast, increasing our grade to 60 and IS
feet rise per mile. till the line crosses Mud Lane.
a little over one mile after crossing ibis road. l
was compelled to keep off to the right and in direc-
ton for Honokaa. | have TO regret that / had to
make this angle, for had 1 not done so the railway
would have passed through about 5000 to 10000
acres of rich cane land but it was unavoidable,
for at this ju~ncture the ground rapidly falls away
at a grade OF not less than 200 feet per mile, in
creasing as you approach the sea. / would there
fore suggest that a good cartroad be made from
the village of Kukuihale to the nearest point of the
railway. say $4,000 feet.
From this point the line runs through the woods
and almost parallel to the coast line, and at grades
varying from 20 to 100 feet per mile fall. till the
lands of Paauhau are reached. situated one and one
fourth miles east of the village of Honokaa, and
/ 293 feet above the level of the sea.
In handing you these plans, it is hardly neces-
sary for me to impress upon you the Importance of
railways in this country. The rapid growth in the
prosperity of the Hawaiian Islands of late years
has been in nothing more apparent than in the i'm
provements and engagements of sugar production,
and railways on these Islands will vastly tend to
promote intercourse among the people, and thus
bring out of the variety OF its component parts a
homogeneousness Of thought and feeling in the
nation.
Below, / have the honor to hand my estimate of
cost. based upon figures sent me from railroad
men of the United States
For 81 Miles of Rdihcay.
17lo Tons of iron tracks-35lbs. per yard......... 1905 90
Fish plates. splice bars, bolts and spikes.-."-..-. 10000 90
Teton locomotives 1G.OO W