The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-10-20
A NEW IDEA ADVANCED
MIR. 5. NJ. DAMON ADVOCATES STONE
BRIDGES.
Wooden Bridges a Mistake Economy In
Rock - Example of Spain, Etc
Common Sence Needed.

MIR. s. NJ. Damon has new idea, and
like all he has heretofore offered. it is
good one. The improvements to the
Post Office and numerous other work
that has been perfected under the pres.
ent Government, and that will live as
monuments of foresight and sound
judgment, are the fruits, in a great
measure, of the solicitude Mr.. Damon
has felt and still holds for the veal of
of the general public and those who
may come after.
MIR. Damon's present idea is for rock
bridges on the streets of Honolulu. For
years the bridges on School and king
streets have been source of inconven.
fence, annoyance and source of
menace to the public. People have
kicked and complained so much that it
has become almost a chronic disease.
The bridges mentioned are made of
Northwest lumber and are at best un.
safe. For several years past it has been
patch up, patch up" with added
become undesirable and unwise.
1t is well known fact with wooden
bridges that the labor required to keep
them up and the yearly expenditure of
money necessary to keep them above
the danger line is like Tennyson's
stream-runs on forever. There is no
cessation; and a bridge of this character
is at all times subject to destruction by
fire, by overfows and by natural decay.
MIR. Damon's idea is to replace the old
wooden apologies with stone bridges,
constructed of the material which
abounds in the hills around Honolulu,
and which would last for half century
and more.
In an interview upon the subject this
morning Mr.. Damon said: II have
been considering the wisdom of sup
planting the wooden bridges on the
principal thoroughfares Of Honolulu
with substantial stone structures. The
one on School street is menace to the
public and an endless expense. Ii
requires the constant attention of the
Superintendent of Public Works, and is
not infrequently in need of expensive
repairs. SO the one on King street.
The thing needed at these places is
stone bridges. The material is all
around us and can be procured at
nominal expense.
But, anyway, what of the expens el
When once built they would be sub
stantial and would take care of them
selves. They would need no patching
and would outlast a multiplicity OF
wooden bridges. In the long run the
stone bridge would prove so much
cheaper than the other that the present
system of wooden structures would ap.
pear foolish indeed.
Take the example of England, of
France, and even of tumbled down
Spain; there you find stone bridges
everywhere Why? Because they
are substantial and economical
These countries have arrived at that
conclusion after ages of experience and
study of economy. Why may we not
profit by their experienceg
81 do not advocate plunging forward
and building lot of stone bridges in a
yelr. We are not able to do it. Nor would
put one hundred or two hundred men
on the work to rush it through. Take
ten Portuguese, they are experienced
workers in stone, and send them out to
prepare the material. Let them
hew and cut and size. 1t may
take a year, but that is alright.
Then let the work proceed until rock
bridge that will stand the heaviest
traffic, that will meet all requirements,
and that will be benefit to not only
ourselves but posterity, is made.
1.-THE expense is nothing. Why, the
money thrown away rebuilding and
patching up wooden bridges in the
course of few years would build a
stone bridge that would be permanent
and an ornament to the city or neigh
borhood in which it appears.
Il hope the taxpayers and the
public will think of the matter.
1T will be stride toward common
sence and real economy, which glance
at the experience of older countries will
prove. We are after common-sence
methods and the way to derive the
greatest benefit out of the peoples
money in the Republic at the present,
and it strikes me that this is one of the
ways"