The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-07-13
PROTEST FROM HAWAII,
PEOPLE or HILO AND HAMAKUA
PETITION.
Taxes Paid In Different Districts-Neces-
sity For Repairs Rather than New
Roads.

EDITOR STAR: A petition presented to
the Government, signed by about four
hundred of the residents of the Districts
of Hamakua and Hilo, extending from
the Waipio gulch on the north to the
land of Keau seven miles south o. the
town of Hilo, says:
"We the undersigned residents and
taxpayers of the Island of Hawaii,
knowing the deplorable condition of the
Government roads in the Districts of
Hilo and North Hilo, and considering
the Importance of this thoroughfare,
connecting as it does with the most
populous districts of the Island and that
from Hilo to Ookala it is for the most
part but bride track.
1--WE therefore respectfully petition
that as soon as the prisoners can be
spared from the Volcano road they be
transferred to this important thorough
fare to work in q northerly direction
until the section Indicated is upon an
equality with the more fortunate dis
tricts of the Island"
1t is ruinored that plans have been
made to place part of the prison gang
upon the road to Kau and the remainder
upon the new road from the nine mile
post on the new volcano road to Kala-
pana in Puma. This arrangement, if
carried out, will defer necess Try work
on the Hilo roads indefinitely and the
community is thoroughly aroused on
the subject. The facts in the case are
substantially as follows: From Hilo to
Ookala is a distance of thirty miles, only
six miles of which, in a northerlv
direction from Hilo, can be driven over
with wheeled vehicles. Kau is con-
nected with Hilo by roads suitable for
vehicles-a distance of eighty miles, in
Guiding thirty miles of new volcano
road.
In the matter of taxes: The total
property taxes paid for 1898 for Hilo and
North Hilo was $780, 0l, and for Hama
kua, $3l, 572, making total property
tax of SSl ,773. The road taxes for the
same districts paid were $500 and
$465O respect vely making total of
$14,170
The total taxes paid in Puma for 1893,
where the proposed new Government
road is to be built, were $34l0 and the
total road taxes were $704.
The total taxes paid on property and
by residents of Hilo on twenty-six miles
of Government road unsuitable for car
riages or wheeled vehicles, from Pepai-
kou to Ookala, were 1852; and the
road taxes paid on the said twenty-six
miles were 5,343.
The building OF good road is a neces-
sity. The benefit, to be derived from it
is not for one class alone; plantations
will not be benefited any more than will
merchants and small farmers and the
holders OF homesteads.
Goods are at present delivered by
Hilo stores for distances OF one to four
teen miles by pack trains. There are
many OF the gulches that cannot be
passed by wheeled vehicles until grades
are changed. Among them are: Luiha-
puma, Hanawi, Onomea, Kowainui
Honomu, Maulua, Laupahoehoe, Kaa
walii and many others. The road from
Hakalau to Maulua, distance OF ten
miles, is almost impossible during tn,
rainy season. The rainfall for the Hilc
district averages fifteen inches pei
month, year in and year out.
The whole amount of the road tax il
necessary to maintain the road already
built; leaving a small sum only for new
and much needed work, to be expended
out of the appropriation for the distric
through which the road passes. Acct
dents fatal to horses are at present o.
. frequent occurrence, and human live
also have been lost owing to the baC
roads. This is not the time for ten
porary policy of postponement. "A
pahe" and "mahope" are played out.
The good of the populous and enter
prising districts of Hilo, North Hilo an
Hamakua should be considered an
take precedence of the opening up G
new lands where the selling of tn
lands is merely hoped for and ne
certain of accomplishment. The Di
2 tricts of Hilo, North Hilo and Hamaku
I should have good road first; then til
i road taxes and very small approprii
8 tions will be sufficient for their mail
= tenance. When this is accomplished
u will be perfectly proper for the Cover
Z ment to 60 on with new roads to ope
3 up new lands.