The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-09-09
Water, Water Everywhere! But
Not a Drop to Drink.

'Ok a. A)AOp ~
Mr.. EDIToR:-I suppose You have
heard the expression "there is some
thing rotten in Denmark" Well, L
believe it is the same old story;
there is something rotten in Homo
lulu. [ refer to our water supply
and the way the party runs it.
While strolling along the city front
about three months ago l noticed,
as any person can to-day, the dis
graceful neglect of all the water
taps and hydrants along our line OF
wharfs, almost every one leaking,
and the precious water running into
the sea. The only place along the
front that Is looked after is the |. |.
5: N. Co.'S. taps, which are very
often repaired.
Can you remember how many
times within the last five years the
coral walls along our front have
been rebuilt? and did it ever occur
to your mind the reason of it all?
Just take walk along our front
any day and see the piles of old
rotten timbers-not so very old
either, when you come to know the
short time they have been there
getting sawed into short lengths,
so as they will be convenient for
some Chinaman to haul away.
Now, the question is, "why do the
coral walls cave IMP" and "why do
the tlmbers rot in such a short
timer" and the answer is, simply
by fresh water continually running
and no attempt made to stop it.
Take a walk down to Wilder's
wharf any day, and there you will
see something to reflect upon as
you are walking homewards.
That wharf has lately been
covered. at u great expense, with
wooden blocking, and is, to all out
ward appearances, a good substan-
tial job which would last for years,
but what Is the use of it all when
the beams and pile heads are all
rotten, or very soon will be, by the
continual flow of fresh water.
A little further along I notice
them trying to rebuild a coral
wall, and such job; [ wonder how
long it will last, or if they will be
able to finish the job before it all
tumbles down into the bay. just
give me your attention to this great
undertaking, and l think we will
both agree for once. Suppose we
take little walk over there; the
first thing meets our gaze are
about twenty natives piling dirt
away back, and as we cross over
we see the large hole they have
dug, and there all by himself I'M
disturbed, and not likely to be
either, is the gentleman who does
the damage. Now, who do you
think it is F.? Why, Mr.. Hydrant.
Now, just take good look at it.
| beg pardon, you can't look at the
original; all you can see is a pile of
rust with water enough running
therefrom to test the Kinau's
boilers-yes, and would burst
them, too, much less q coral wall;
and in the face Of it all they keep
plling up coral blocks, and finish
the job by filing in dirt and bury
up the same old gentleman once
more. How long do you give it to
burst that wall?
Those are things to be seen any
day in Honolulu, while the papers
tell us to be very careful of the
water. Careful should say so;
the people living upon the slope of
Punchbowl are SO careful they
have to sit up nights until II
o'clock to watch for it's coming, SO
that they can procure enough to
drink and cook with for the coming
day. Still, with all that, there is
enough water wasted along the
front to supply a large portion of
Honolulu, and nobody seems to
care or stop it.
Thanking you for the valuable
space taken up in your paper,
remain, yours respectfully,