The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-06-25
ROADS ON HAWAII.

Their Improved Condition Compared
with Roads of Former Times-Tht
| New Road From HiIo to the Volcano
Mr.. EDITOR Since the organization
of the present Road Board system,
have had occasion to travel more or less
over the roads of windWard Hawaii and
to notice with comfortable satisfaction
the great improvement being made in
them. A definite radical policy has been
adopted in place OF the old temporizing
and makeshift one which governed road
supervisors for so many years in times
gone by, and the matter OF road building
has been taken up thoroughly, honestly,
and courageous!y. Locations that were
unsound in principle, and places that
were so essentially bad that they could
never be made good were speedily and
bravely abandoned in favor OF better,
even though great deal of money had
been spent there. The Boards generally
recognized the fact that because great
deal OF money had been thrown away,
that was no reason more should followit.
OF greater significance perhaps, than
what the Boards have done is the man
ner in which they have done it. The
manly, energetic thorough way in which
they have gone about it impressing the
public with the assurance that they
meant business, that they really meant
to have good roads, something that the
public had long given up hoping for I'M
der the dilletante dabbling regime OF
former Road Supervisors. 1t soon be-
came evident that the roads were likely
to receive the attention they deserved
for reasons of duty, self interest, public
spirit and personal pride of the best men
in the district, of men who wanted good
roads, and not the chance OF handling
the money that should build them.
And yet 1 would not minimize what
they have done, for really believe they
have done more in the short period of
their existence than has been done in
any single decade before them. In the
district of Hamakua, more visible i'm
pr0vement has been made than in any
other, partly because of the excellence
and experience of the Board for that dis
trict, partly because the conditions Of
road building are less difficult than in
some places, and partly because so little
work of a practical value had been
done before them. They have gone to
work With singular good judgment,
almost to engineering
skill, to change the grades, al
ter locations, fill up hollows, do
anything in reason to secure a
really serviceable road and the result
speaks to their praise in the recognition
of every passer-by, especially if he re-
members the roads of two years ago. In
this district, more really valuable work
has been done in the short space of a
year and half than in the twenty years
and all done, the chairman
assures me, with only the ordinary Road
Tax fund, and without expanding a
single dollar of the special appropriation.
One cannot help wondering where this |
same money has gone to in former years.
1t certainly left little impression on the |
roads.
In Hilo the conditions of road build |
ing are more difficult and the require. |
ments of good road more severe, owing |
to the clayey nature of the soil and the |
heavy rainfall; besides which the de-
mands for bridges form very expensive |
item. But even in Hilo, that most hope
less of all districts, where people had !
given up all expectation OF good roads |
and had resigned themselves in patience |
to the inevitable mud until the coming
Of the millennium; even here the cloud .
is lifting and already there are miles Of
good macadamized carriage road; mar
row in stone, to be sure, but solid OF bot
ON, where the old roads were spacious
and unfathomable in mud. And it is now
coming to be felt that carriages may be
Useful even in HilO. OF course every
hing cannot be accomplished in a day,
md the Road Board has no power Of
miracles, as it would need to
nave to suit all, but for an ordinary
human Road Board it is doing good work
md gives hopeful prospects of final good
.oads as well as something more tangible
or the present.
The same may be said Of North Hilo,
where the conditions are at their very
worst, and where the least has been
lone in bye-gone years. Many very wise
hanges have been made, and others still
more radical and worthy are in prospect.
But all districts are probably not fav-
red with such good boards as these,
With men who make it their interest and
business to attend to road-building, or
nen who have had the experience or can
ford to give the time which thorough
measures require. For the benefit of
districts not thus favored, it would be
fortunate thing if an engineer
of good common sense
nd sound judgment, could be en-
,loyed to make the circuit OF the
stands from time to time and advise
nth the boards as to changes OF grade
nd location, examine into the condi-
ions, make estimates OF cost, and if need
e lay out on the ground the changes to
e made. This would probably save a
cod many mistakes and the unwise ex-
OF . good deal OF money. It is
pity to see money spent year after
ear trying to ill up hollow, or nibble
t grade which must ultimately be
bandoned beyond all doubt, and with