The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-01-15
PUBLIC WORKS.
Interview With the Minister of the
Interior.
Result OF m omeiaI Tour OF Inspection
ON the Island OF Hawaii.

Knowing that the Minister OF the In
terror had recently returned from visi
OF several weeks on Hawaii, and under
standing that the same was for purposes
OF business and not OF pleasure, 4 repre-
sentative OF the ADVERTISER called upor
the Minister at his office a few days since
and requested an interview, which Wa:
granted The following is report OF the
conversation which followed;
MIR. Thurston, YOU have recently
visited the Island OF Hawaii in company
with the Superintendent OF Public Works
may inquire the object OF your visit ?''
Certainly, it was 10 gain by personal
inspection better knowledge of the con-
ditIon and needs of the roads, and the
various public buildings and wharves.
wished also TO compare the results ac-
complished by the Road Boards under
the new law with those obtained under
the old Road Supervisors.
What is your impression as to the
working Of the new law?"
''In most OF the districts the results
are most satisfactory; especially in Ko-
hala, Hamakua and Hilo. In those dis
tricts more work has been accomplished
in one year under Road Board Admins
tration than i'll the previous five years,
and ut very small comparative cost. 1t
was feared by the opponents of the sys-
tenn that the Boards would not take any
interest in the roads, rs they received no
pay; but so far from this being the case,
the members seemed full OF public
spirited interest and enthusiasm that
were refreshing. The planters have also,
almost universally taken an interest and
greatly assisted in the work OF obtaining
good roads, by furnishing labor at cost
price when it could not be elsewhere OBJ
tanned, and by granting free rights of
way where changes OF grade were desir-
able"
"What is the prospect OF getting the
road through Kohala 70 Hamakua, for
which an appropriation was made for
survey?r
IAN examination IRON both the Ko-
hala and Hamakua sides, and along the
face of the cliff by boat, demonstrates
that the road would be longer in actual
number of miles than the present road
by way of Waimea. There are eight
valleys from 800 to 800 feet deep, and
over thirty from 200 to 500 feet deep. \
careful examination OF the base of the
cliffs from Honopue 10 Waimanu may
show practicable site for a road. and
telephone wire can probably be run there
now. But low estimate of the cost OF
4 road built to respectable grade would
be $4,000. From the kohala side it
will pay TO run road Us far as Honopue
as this will open up some good land, but
beyond that the whole surface of the
country is a mass OF jungle covered
ravines."
when will work be begun on the
Hilo Water Works."
Measurements were taken by Mr.
RoWell, and tenders Tor supplying the
pipe will be called for as soon as the
specifications are ready-probably within
a few days. The pipe viii have to be
ordered from abroad, SO that it will be /
as late as August or September before it |
arrives. 1t will be placed in position as
soon as it comes. The appropriation is |
not large enough to lay the water ON to |
the whole town, but it will build dis |
tributing reservoir and bring the water !
from q spring two miles back OF the |
town TO Front street and along several of |
the main streets. Additions can then /
be made rs the state OF the Treasury 4
may allow and the needs OF the town
''What is being done concerning the
Volcano road from Hilo?"
Mr.. j. NJ. Lydgate has been at work
Or the last six weeks prospecting for
he best location, and laying out the
grade. In company with Messrs. ID. II.
Chas. Richardson, K. Ry-
.roft, J. NJ Lydgate and Judge Lyman,
III old kamaainas, three days were spent
n going over the ground and deciding
Ipon the general line TO be adopted 1t
lad been claimed that there was an a-a
low on which the Hilo woods were stu
ted, extending nearly to the volcano,
md that much shorter an more
economical road could be made BY
building on the flow in a straight line to
ne volcano. To test this question cross
ectlons were cut into the forest at right
.ngles to the present road. At the half
Fay house IA was reached three miles
n the woods. Four miles above the
lalf-Way house a trail was cut for five
nd a half miles with no signs of
"a being reached. Three miles below
he halfway house trail was cut
n for two miles with no signs of
a. In all three places the soil
1as deep rich loan, rather thinly tim
cred, with thick jungle undergroWth,
Ihich included large numbers of the
hawaiian palm nee-the lOulu. The
oil Is very rich, and along the edge of i
ne woods shows many signs Of former
The new road will open a
cry fertile section Of country, lying at
n elevation Of from 400 to 1900 feet.
he result Of the examination is to de-
lOnstrate that the short cut theory is
npracticable. The general line recon-
tended by Mr. Lydgate, and approved
y those familiar with the locality, is 9
the same as the present
1ad, except that it will go direct to the '
ali-way house, after leaving the woods, 3
blowing the old trail through the Ii
TaInp instead Of keeping out on tine pa n
OehOe as at present. A traction en- 2
inc, similar 10 the one used by Mr..
.ycrOft In making roads in Puma, was
rdered from England Last September,
nd IS due here On the through steamer
aturiay 18th fit does not come then
should be here the month following.
II the preliminary preparations are
eng made, and work viii be com :
Fenced "a soon a. the engine arrives. A
,gular grade 81 six feet IN a hundred, b
itI maximum Of eight feet In a hum 2