The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-08-12
TIE PUBLIC REVENUE.
Report ofa Select Committee Appointed
by the Legislature on Improvement
and Protection of Private Property
in Honolulu.

Report of n Select COMMITTEES Appointesi
BY the Legislature on Improvement
and Protection of Private Property
in Honolulu.
Ahiolani Hale, Aug. 4th, 1890.
HoN. j. 5. wALKER.
President OF the Legislature OF the Ha-
waiian Kingdom
DEAR SIR: The special committee
appointed by virtue of a resolution
adopted by this House July LIST, directing
us TO investigate and report upon the
matter OF public revenue being used for
the improvement and protection Of pri-
waite property in Honolulu, which the
public have no interest in," now beg TO
state that they have ia zen the matter
into consideration.
And as the Public Market, Water
Works and Electric Light are three of
the items brought to our notice for in
vestigation, We beg leave to report upon
these now, and hope to be able to
make report at some future time upon
all the items brought before us.
In this report We only give results, not
details.
The three items named above are
revenue producers, and promise in the
near future OF yielding a revenue suffi-
clent not only TO pay running expenses
and cost OF repairs, but also enough TO
reimburse the Government for the money
used IN their construction, with the inte-
rest thereon, and thereafter produce Il
net revenue for the use of the Govern
ment. Already the market Yields q
handsome profit. In the past period the
income has been SIS, 26S .9S, being $4,000
in excess of the rate shown in the last
year OF the last period. The estimated
income for the present period is $l7 900,
and the expense OF running for the same
period 1890, leaving 4 handsome profit
OF ST., 500 for the use OF the Government.
The Water Works do not vet make
such satisfactory showing, but it is en-
couraging, as its revenue increases as
the Improvements progress, and may
yet become an important source of pub
lie revenue, as its increase is constant
and considerable.
During the period ending 1880 the
receipts were only $3S, $50 81, while the
receipts for the period ending 1870 were
$50, 60405. This revenue is capable of
still larger and immediate increase by
an extension of the existing system to
the suburbs of the city. BY SO doing,
not only would direct revenues be de-
rived therefrom, but large areas of real
estate in the city suburbs would be in
creased many times their present value
by making water from the city system
available thereon. Besides the above
advantages, arising from an extension OF
the city water system, 700 horse power
would be created at the same time, and
could be made available for running
machinery to engender electric light,
thus killing two birds with one stone.
The total expense for the Honolulu
Water Works during the past thirty-eight
years has been $65S, S9S. so, and the re-
ceipts for the same time have been 1901, :
S4S.06, thus leaving only $57 ,555.74 OF
debt, and with water property owned
by the Government worth 1919 900 COM
mercial value. Besides the income in
dollars named above, the Government
has been reasonably supplied with water
for all purposes free OF charge.
The Electric Light does not figure so
favorably. as it is vet in its infancy, but
there is Eight ahead" and perhaps 4
larger revenue will eventually be realized
from it than from the water system, if
the improvements contemplated are car
ried into eff ct.
The estimated revenues derived from
this source during the present period, if
the contemplated improvements were
completed, would be S57 800, and the
running expenses for the same period
$50, S23, leaving net over $40, 600, which
would pay the interest for the time, and
rapidly repay the principal as the years
roll on, and after all is paid, the income
realized after paying expenses will be a
direct Government realization, and We
are informed that the system is capable
of being still further improved in future
periods.
Besides the income above named the
Government would have its supply OF
light without cost, and the streets OF
Honolulu would be lighted at the same
rate
So your committee think, as the burden
of the improvements have been borne by
the people at large these many years as
a business venture, that wisdom would
dictate that now, as they promise all to
become profitable, they should be speed
ily carried to a successful issue by the
Government, and by so doing no injus-
tice in the end to the people outside OF
Honolulu, as their taxes will eventually
be lighter in consequence OF the Govern
ment realiZatiOns.
J NJ. HORNER,
PAUL lSENBERG,
A. MARQUES,