The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-09-30
WEDNESDAY September 3Oth.
STREET CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS

There IS skill In rOadmaklDg as in
other work, and the more skill that is
applied to road construction the bet
ter and cheaper it is for the commu-
nifty. Roads properly built cost as
little Hs a rule, in the first instance,
as those that are built without either
knowledge or system; they last far
longer, and cost infinitely less for re-
pairs. The roads in and around Homo
lulu a.re badly constructed they are
seldom in decent order, and they are
expensive to keep in repair. In short,
judging by their condition and what
they might be, it is not too much to
say that they cost three times as
much as they should do. This may
be severe criticism, but anyone who
has had experience in these matters
will recognize its justice.
1t Isl quite true that this city has
not been planned with an eye to con-
venieuce of travel or facilities for
road construction, but that is no
reason why faulty plan should be
followed by careless and unskilIed
execution. There is no good reason
why the principal streets of the city
and the leading drives out of it
should not be as we'll constructed and
as thoroughly drained as the best
thoroughfares and drives anywhere
else. There has been enough money
expended upon them to secure this
result, but it is entirely wanting.
The streets and roads are "fat as a
pancake" where there does not hap
pen to DE hollow in the center. The
roadbeCIs are, therefore, drainage
channels in wet weather, and deep
ruts are followed out by storm cur
rents, 10 be roughly filled up with
sand ard boulders, it may be after
breaking numberless carriage springs,
and ia the next rain these repairs
simply divert the torrent into other
parts of the road to scoop out fresh
cutters for itself.
This is street aud road construction
and repairs in and around Honolulu.
It is q very wasteful and an exceed
ingly unsatisfactory system. It would
be just as easy, the grade being once
established, to make roadbed that
would drain off the water as it falls,
and from the roof catchment area as it
touches the street, by side drains or
CUTTERS, leaving the crown and sides of
the road clean and hard, and rather
the better for good securing shower.
But this requires skill and conscieu-
tious work. It would also save labor
and expense by minimizing the cost
Of repairs.
AS these are desirable things in
themselves we fail to see why they
have heretofore been dispensed with.
Honolulu is more especially a place
where visitors should receive good
impression at first sight. 1t is situate
ia mid-ocean, and is so isolated that
it can ellly be compared with itself.
Melbourne can be compared with sgd
ney and Sydney with Auckland, very
much to the advantage of Auckland
in the III after of streets and thorough
fares; while San Francisco can be
compared with Chicago, Philadelphia
or New York, greatly to its advantage
also a the matter of cable roads; but
Honolulu stands alone, aud is without
any conlpensating advantage for its
exeerabls streets and diIapidated
drives.
AS we have said, there is no excuse
for all this, because enough money
has been spent to make our thorough
fares and drives as perfect as need be.
Moreoyei,, it should cost but little to
keep them in good condition. The
sun ia great roadmaster. It is i'm
s,ossf bic Tor roadbed to rot here as
In cold, moist climates. The solar
beat and wind dry UP the surface of |
our streets and drives in short time,
rendering the roadmen's work con-
paratiVel,y easy. The damage is done