The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-09-23

which the FINANCE OODmlltSe LHdhO
against me, is in connection with the
volcano Road. - The gist OF their
charge is:
/. That the original estimate OF the
cost OF the road was grossly inadequate
and deceiving.
,. That the work OF construction has
been "extravagant" and that 'the pub
lie funds in this instance have been unne-
cessarilv squandered when such waste
fulness could have been avoided"
3. That ga well known experienced
and responsible road builder offered to
take the contract for the Volcano road
for the su.l of $4,000. That the Min
lister refused to enter into such contract,
and consequently, we find he has sue
ceeded in building portion only OF the
road at an extravaganza advance"
1. That pledged the credit OF the
country, and the approval OF future
Legislature, to the Wilder Steamship
CO., w. G. Irwin & Co., Castle d Cooke,
and Robinson and Dillingham;, whom he
induced, without authority, to advance
money in large amounts to supplement
the legal appropriation"
In addition to this the committee in
dulge in liberal amount OF word paint
ING descriptive of their opinion OF me, OF
which the following is a sample:
''The action of the Minister with re-
gard to this work forces upon your COM
mittee the conviction that aside from
hagrantly unlawful action, either gross
deceit has been deliberately practiced,
or the Ministers official incompetency
has been emphasized"
In reply to this charged desire to state
1st. CoNCERNING THE CHARGE OF MADE
QUACY, AND DECEITFULNEss OF ESTIMATED
COST.
The question of making an appropria-
ton for the Volcano road came up Just
before the meeting OF the Legislature OF
1888. 1 had but recently come into office,
and there was no time to make de-
tail survey of the line or examination of
the particular character OF the soil on
which to base definite estimate of cost.
There had been no road built through
similar country in any part of the Isl
ands, which could be used as a basis of
estimate. Under these circumstances |
got the most reliable information avail
able, which was as follows:
Mr.. r r. Rycroft had made good
wagon road in Puma, through loose brit
tie a-a. | asked him what the cost of
his road had been, and requested an
estimate OF the cost OF a road to the Vol
cano.
He replied that to make road
like his in that character of rock cost
about $1,000 mile; and that if there
was "a all the way to the Volcano, he
- - aloec ,.No1 aOt1l1 hea hIrilf
and finished for $500 mile, as the
character of the rock was not as favor
able as at Puma.
next consulted Mr.. Samuel G. Wild
er, who l knew took a great interest in
the subject. He told me that if his Hilo
Railroad was a success he proposed to
open a wagon road himself if the Gov
eminent did not; that at his request
Mr.. L. Cabot, civil engineer, had look
ed over the line and advised him that
road over which wagons could travel
could be opened for 100000, after which
it could be improved He referred me
to Mr.. Cabot for further figures. | saw
Mr.. Cabot, and he told me that he had
only made rough examination of the
line, and his rough estimate OF the cost
Of thoroughly-built carriage road was
100000; but that he thought road
which could be used by wagons could
be made for $780, 00 and that this could
be improved later as more money was
available.
On this information and advise, and
with the intention OF first putting
rough road clear through and afterward
improving it, the sum of $1,000 was re-
commended and aDnrODTlated
MIR. Wilder was a member OF the
Legislature; the lack of detail estimates
on which to base a definite estimate of
cost. and the whole situation and subject
was freely discussed and understood in
the Legislature, and recognizing the ne
cessity of beginning the work immedi-
atelv. the appropriation was made. The
deep and wicked " deceit " of the late
Minister" is the product OF the lively
and versatile imagination OF the COM
mittee. Ii the gentlemen OF the COM
mittee can suggest and further informa-
ton or more definite basis OF estimate
which could have been obtained i should
like to hear of it.
THE CHARGE OF EXTRAvAGANCE.
I'd. deny the charge of extravaganza
absolutely.
The work throughout has been under
the immediate personal superintendent
of Mr.. ]. D. Marlin. He does not smile
as sweetly as Mr.. Muller; he is not such
an orator as Mr.. Macfarlane, nor has he
the ability to deliver legal opinions
which is possessed by all the gentlemen
of the Finance Committee; but for the
work in which he is engaged, do not
know of his equal as an executive man
in the country. He has been in charge
of some of the most important engineer
ing work of the Spring Valley Water
Works; had the entire charge of the
construction of the big Spreckelsville
ditch, and was for several years the head
overseer on the Spreckelsville Planta-
ton. From personal inspection, upon
several occasions, of the work while in
progress, and an intimate knowledge of
the ground and methods used, and from
the statements OF the Sheriff OF Hawaii,
who has been a close observer OF the
work done, and of all the prominent
residents of Hilo, who have taken
an interest in the road, unhesi-
tatingly say that the work has been car
ried on by Mr.. Marlin theoretically,
and economically.
The committee have cited no evidence
- 81 +l,a 81, ,ra of avtra vauonoa