The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-09-03
lead Of United States Coast and
GG0dGtiC Survey.
MISSION OF DR.. H. S. PRITCHETT
Work That Has Been DOne-TO Be
Undertaken-Spea of HiIo Bay.
Others-The Bureau.

Dr.. H. 5. Pritchett United States
Coast and Geodetic Survey, is the ninth
of his line and the youngest man ever
at the head of the work The bureau is
the oldest of scientific character in the
home Government. 1t was established
in 1907 by Jefferson. Headquarters are
| in building near the Capitol at Wash
lington. From that point DR.. Pritchett,
| Who leaves for the Mainland today after
hurried visit to the Islands, directs
the movements of eleven vessels and
several hundred skilled men, besides
the necessary clerical and manual
working force. DR.. Pritchett is from
St Louis, where he was in charge of
the observatory and had a chair in
Washington University. He is a pleas
ant, frank gentleman, with an air of at
tentiOn and business about him. For
about fifteen years he has been with the
bureau. DR.. Pritchett was ,dOwn here
in 1882. Then he saw the Island of
Oahu only. This time he has visited
Maui and Hawaii.
The United States has coast line ag-
gregating $4,000 miles. Hawaii has l.
200 miles. There is a good deal of coast
line to Cuba and Porto Rico and if the
Philippines come under Old Glory that
far-off possession has some fourteen
hundred islands of coast line. Cuba
and Porto Rico are certain to be added
to the territory of the bureau and DR..
Pritchett sees an immense amount of
work ahead. The work of the survey
is not only of a high order, but must
be most thorough. Such maps and
charts must be provided that will
make navigation easy and at the
same time supply for all concerned the
fullest possible information of an end
less variety and of the utmost exact
ness.
DR.. Pritchett reports directly 10 the
Secretary OF the Treasury, Mr.. Gage,
but was sent down here largely through
the wish of President Mckinley, whose
interest in the group from a purely
utilitarian standpoint is becoming more
apparent right along. The mission of
the head Of the bureau is easily de |
fined. 1t is simply to view the field and |
report and recommend with the view |
to extending the work of the bureau to |
this district at once. 1t may be that the |
Controller Of the Currency will not re- |
gard Hawaii within the provisions Of |
the act appropriating for work on the |
Pacific Coast, but the delaysOn that ac-
Will Tn 20 4
two steamers are available for work
here and it is probable that both viii
be sent down
Much work has. done in the survey
department here and by the American
Navy that will be accepted by DR. Prit-
chett's Bureau just as compiled. The
visitor speaks in the highest terms of
the completeness and correctness of
what has been done on land and in the |
harbOrs and on the coast. Prof. Alex
ander is especially commended.
In an Interview Dr.. Pritchett said |
that there was no necessity for work |
by his Bureau in Honolulu Bay or !
Pearl Harbor. Referring to Pearl LOchs |
he thought it might be expected that |
the channel would be dredged out at a |
reasonably early date. The undertake ]
ing was not difficult one at all ac- |
cOrding to reports. but on account Of |
the fact of considerable of the work |
being in the breakers it might take |
more time than had been estimated.
Dr. Pritchett spoke directly of HilO |
Bay. He said the first work under his |
orders would be there. at Kahului and |
at KOOlau harbor on the winward side |
Of this Island. First will be the sur |
veys and sOundings and in this cOmpil- |
alton will be included bottom investi- |
cations, determining where sand, coral |
or mud lie. All tide data will be care |
fully prepared and the currents Will be |
studied tirelessly. The land conditions, |
presence or absence of streams, viii be |
figured upon. Then will come decisions |
on breakwater. For HiIO one wall only |
may be required. Two or more may be |
needed Dr.. PTitchett said that HilC |
Bay. he believed, could be made fne |
harbOr. Work viii be done there by h
bureau. No bTeakwater can be locate, |
till the action of tides, sweIls, currents
stream flow from shore, sand move
ment and many other things are know
positively. 1t would be folly and Who'll