The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-10-27
ABOUT HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.

The Bulletin" is correct in its remark
on the Importance of enIarging the
water space in our harbor We say
this, of course, without reference to the
pointed conclusion of the article in our
contemporary, to the effect that some
800 acres of tide land, ''the property Of
two private gentlemen should be pur-
chased by the Government. Perhaps
this purchase would be a wise and poll
tic act; but whether wise or polite, there
is no provision whatever in the Appro-
priation Act for this expenditure, and we
must therefore consider the subject
without reference to vested interests.
1t is fact that at some seaports re-
claimed land has been dug out and tidal
docks have been constructed instead
thereof. In the British Isles the work
of harbor conservancy has been one of
increasing solicitude on the part of the
Imperial Parliament, and Royal Com
missions to report upon this question
have been numerous. One point upon
which all Royal Commissions on Har-
bors were agreed was this, that wharyes
or other distractions should not be built
athwart the tideway; in other words,
clear At those seaports where
wharves and jetties, or as they were
called Ginger and toe projections
were erected for convenience OF trade,
whether it was public or private proper
ty, the report was condemnatory and
they were removed. No compensation
was thought OF, because in the British
Empire private interests are not allowed
10 usurp public rights, to the prejudice OF
public convenience, or to initiate against
the common good 1t is different in the
United States where, with the same
legal theory as in England, public inter
ests are invariably subordinated to pri- /
vate advantage. The reason for this |.
difference is to be found in the elective /.
Judiciary and universal sovereignty.
1t is very fortunate that in this King
dom the Judiciary is independent, and /
that faults in public improvement result /
from lack OF intelligence, or more prob !
ably from want Of thought That a
great and costly mistake has been made /
in reducing the deep water space of the |
harbor cannot be denied, and we agree |.
with the Bulletin" in thinking that the .
time is not far distant when the question /
will be: GLOW much accommodation r.
can we give to deep sea-going vessels?" 7
and not Chow much land can we steal |
from the natural Marlboro
But we have not come to this point .
yet, although the necessity for action is /
close upon US. Ii Honolulu Is not pro-
perly equipped as harbor before the |
Canadian Pacific steamship line is /
started to Japan and China, the Cana
dams will find some other port Of call.
or perhaps they may leave out the Ha-
waiian Islands entirely And when the
Panama Canal is opened, unless we are
prepared to utilize the stream of com
merce running thither, the worlds trade
viii 90 elsewhere. Reducing the water
space OF our harbor and lessening the
scoUr on the bar, are not works which
should be promoted at the public ex-
pense. But such is the fact neverthe-
less, and we can only hope that a lucid
interval may occur to save the harbor OF
Honolulu from ultimate destruction by
ignorant but well-meaning officials