The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-07-07
HAWAIF'S ROADS
Some Results of a Years
Work at Building.
Bridges Constructed and Other
Improvements Made Within
Appropriation.

MR.. EDITOR:-Thinking you might
like a passing notice of the road work
done on the Island of Hawaii during
the past year, I will here give it to you
for 1 think the greatest credit is due
the present Government for the bust
ness-like manner in which the road
work on the island has been pushed
forward. AS soon as funds were in
hand from the loan, as authorized by
the recent Legislature, not over year
ago, the bulk of the work was started,
and in the brief period many miles of
roadway have been built.
The road from Hilo to Hakalau has
been completed and is now open to car
riage traffic. The early completion of
this road deserves especial notice, for
in the past 10 months nearly seven
miles of this highway have been built
in a most substantial manner. Stone
arches are in the smaller waterways,
while no less than eight new steel
bridges span the turbulent waters of
ries of gulch crossings, and their ap-
proaches and the grades have been
made as light as the country would ad-
NIT, and are everywhere an evidence of
the skilful manner in which the road
has been laid out. This work has been
completed within the time and in the
manner planned, and, what is more,
within the funds estimated.
A macadamized roadway four and a
half miles long has been built to the
Kaumana settlement, while a similar
roadway about two miles in extent has
been built to Kaiwiki.
The Puma road is nearly completed
to Pahoa village, which is 10 miles from
Hilo, and by the end of the year this
road will be opened for distance Of
about six miles more.
In North Hilo the Laupahoehoe
Gulch road is completed, with an ap-
proach to the wharf. The comment OF
strangers who have seen this road is
that it's surface is equal to that of King
street, Honolulu. The road has been
graded to the Hawaii gulch, which is
fast being graded. The road has been
laid out as far over as Kapehu to be
advertised for tenders. By the end of
the year there will be constructed in
this district nine miles of new road,
leaving only gap of four miles to con-
meet with the road from Hilo.
1t is in the District of North Kona,
however, that the greatest amount of
work has been done, for while a con-
siderable amount of work still remains
I'D fr~a0f nr- 10 IN
tire main road of the district, as we'll
as some branches, in all % miles, have
been laid out and let by contracts, COM |
pIeting all the necessary roads in the !
district and leaving a balance in the ap- |
propriation of several thousand dollars, |
which it is proposed to spend toward
Waimea Twelve miles of road have
already been taken care of in South |
Kona. and it is expected to have the |
road open to Waiohinu to wagon trathc
by the end of the year. The Konas
are the road-makerS' paradise, and for
finely-constructed roads one must go
there to see the best on the Island OF
Hawaii.
The Kohala- Waimea road has been
LET by contract, and with the compile
ton of the road the District of North
Kohala will be connected with the rest
of the island by a fair wagon road
Such In brief is the years record OF
road building, but what, of course,
have not stated might, should think,
with modesty be mentioned, and that
is that this entire work has been laid
out. superintendent and had charge OF
by only one person, with no assistance
worth noticing.
Very truly yours, "OBSERVER.
Honohina, North Hilo, Hawai-, july
3, 1897.