The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-05-14
A GREAT ENTERPRISE.
TuE SEW FERTILIZER WORKS A
MAMMOTH Project.
work Progressing Rapidly Everything
WIN be In Operation by
september.

OF all single business enterprises,
whether now under construction or OF
recent completion, none will bear COM
parison in point OF magnitude, claim
upon public interest and real Importance
to the country at large, with the new
fertilizer works now building at Kalihi
just east Of the Oahu railway.
A representative OF the STAR was
shown through the premises Saturday
and was surprised to note the greatness
of the scheme, excellence OF the plans
and general arrangement OF things, and
the wonderful degree OF progress made
since ground was first broken few
weeks ago. March LIST the site OF this
important project was dry, ragged
tract covered with stones, grass and
parched algaroba bushes. To-day, as in
the night, over the desolate plain Of
yesterday have come gigantic emblems
OF prosperity, the beginning OF an enter
prise aiming directly to the enhance
ment Of the nations wealth by enrich
! ing the sugar lands. \ vast amount Of
money is being and will be expended in
this new departure; but the good effects
OF the enterprise upon the industries OF
| Hawaii will be almost incalcuable.
Cane draws great deal upon the soil,
and fertilization is considered neces-
sity in all sugar producing countries.
| Foreign mineral and animal substances
are as essential to the perfect develope-
ment of cane as is sunshine. Experts
and recognized authorities on the mat
ter hold that an application OF one-iourth
| ton of improved fertilizer to the acre of
sugar land in the Hawaiian Islands each
year would increase the output two tons
per acre, and the total production OF the
country to 100000 tons per annum.
Heretofore, however, the improved fer
tilizers have not been procurable, crude
guanos alone being available, which, i'll
turn, are unfit for the purpose used.
The new fertilizer works occupy a
tract of ground about five acres in ex-
tent bordering the railway. Entering
the premises, the first object to attract
attention is an immense factory build
ing, the walls of which are about COM
pleted to the second story. This struct-
ure is of brick planted upon rock
foundation: is 100 feet long, 30 feet
wide at the rear and 80 feet at the front,
where it rises to the height of three
stories In here 100 tons of sheet lead,
now enroute from England, will be
used TO line the acid watts. In front of
this building and extending well into
the premises is IA branch of the Oahu
Railway by which a special train of
, cars convey material from the city
: and depositing it on the spot requiring
r it. Next, bearing a common frontage
with the main factory building, a
foundation C75x75) has been laid for a
/ brick structure to include the boiler
: house, engine room and primary mill
/ Opposite this, beyond the tramway. ap
pears an immense wooden warehouse
= with rock floor measuring 200X50 feet
= and rising to hight of 80 feet. This is
e now about finished. To the rear of the
@ engine and boiler departments another
: warehouse will be be built and this vii
! be approached by a second branch OF
e the Oahu Railway, which will connect
with all buildings on the Eva side Of
v the works East of this prosperity,
: huddle of fine buildings appears tn,
:. laboratory, residence of Dr. Averdan
/. and cottages for employees, all con
veniently arranged, neat, coy and ele
i gantly painted. Beyond the city limits
means for obtaining water had to b
# devised. This appears in the matte
of an artesian well, atfording ampl
# water for all purposes about the works
?. AS great as the undertaking seems
the management announces the be
n ginning of operations for September
4 Tie lead, machinery, in fact the entir
plant is now due from England, iron
n whence it is accompanied by several eS
# perts, who will put the machinery i
/ place. Six thousand tons of guam
from Layson Island will arrive abou
>. September LIST, when, it is thought
# everything will be ready for business.
Vi 1t is well worth the while to pay
q. visit to the fertilizer works at Kalihi.