The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-05-13
Naval Authorities Say Entire 800
Acres Will Be Needed.
ADMIRAL AND CAPT. NICHOLS
Report to Secretary Long-Conclu-
sion on Anchorage-East Loeb
Question of Land Values.

There has been received here from
Washington Document No. 1874, House
of Representatives of the United States
Congress, entitled Survey of Pearl
Harbor, Hawaiian Islands" The Ad-
vertiser lately gave an extended ac-
count OF this survey under the imme-
dite direction of Lieutenant Mayo, of
the {. S. Gunboat Bennington and of
the preparation of a map, with sound
ings. by Chris. J. Willis, Of the Ha-
waiian Government survey Office.
This paragraph from the act making
appropriations for sundry civil ex-
penses of the Government of the Unit
ed States for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1898" ordered the work and
authorized the expenditure of the
money needed: improvement OF
Pearl Harbor-For expense of neces-
sary survey of entrance to and OF
Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Islands, and
10 enable the Secretary of the Navy to
ascertain and to report to Congress,
the amount of land necessary to be
acquired in said harbor. and the prob
abe cost thereof, for a coaling and re-
pair station, 100000
The document is published upon re-
quest of Congressman Cannon, chair
man of the House Committee on APP
preparations, to Secretary Long. The
initial order is from Secretary Long
at Washington, under date of July q,
1897. to Admiral Miller, the Comman
der-in-Chief of the Pacific Station, U.
S. n 1t is to this effect: "A survey
ing outfit has been placed aboard the
u. S. S. Bennington and the Depart
ment desires that upon the arrival of
this vessel at Honolulu this work
should be begun. You will make such
reports as will enable the department
10 comply with the requirements of
the act making the appropriation.
Particular attention is invited to the
fact that the Secretary of Navy is re-
Quired to ascertain and report to Con-
gress the amount of land necessary to
be acquired in said harbor and the
probable cost thereof for a coaling
and repair station 1t is requested
that your report contain full informa-
ton concerning all points in relation
10 this subject with which it may be
necessary for the Secretary of the
Navy to be acquainted, in order not
only TO make the required report to
Congress, but also to answer any Ques-
tions that the department may prob
ably be asked by the naval committees
during the discussion of the report.
tits also, requested that you state what
you believe will probably be the cost
Of dredging the entrance to Pearl Har-
Dor and whether there is any dredging
apparatus in the Hawaiian Islands
that could be used for the purpose"
Admiral Miller to the commanding
officer of the U. S. Gunboat Benning-
ten, August 26, 1897: You will pro-
coed with the survey of Pearl Harbor
and its approaches as rapidly as cir
cumstances will permit. The survey
you are to make will be hydrogra-
phic one of Pearl Harbor and its ap-
proaches, the scale, number of lines
and complete soundings to be at your
discretion"
The report of Admiral Miller was
sent from this place to the Department
al Washington on February 81, of this
year. These are extracts:
From personal examinations of
Pearl Harbor and consideration of
Commander Nichols reports and pro-
sections. l would state that the cap
abilities of the harbor as an anchor
age for vessels of large size have been
much exaggerated.
Il agree with Commander Nichols
that il would be desirable for the Unit
ed States Government to acquire pos
session of the whole of the Waipio
peninsula, comprising 500 acres of
land, If coaling and repair station is
10 be made at Pearl Harbor. The price
Of this land, as held by its present
owners, for which options have been
given, is a fictitious one, based on the
probable needs of the Government
Unless improvements are made in
Pearl Harbor the value of this land
for agricultural or other purposes,
would, as l find by careful inquiry,
certainly be not more than $50 per
acre, and probably less. 1t will be
noticed by Commander Nichols's re-
port that the right of eminent domain
can be exercised by the Government
and reasonable price fixed.
After a thorough consideration of
the whole question recommend that
the land at and in the vicinity of
Reckoning Point be selected as the site
for the contemplated station on ac-
count of its proximity to the East
Loeb, which has the largest anchor
age, and for the fact dry docks NAV
easily be constructed there, as there
is ample space TO dock and undock
vessels of any size
Il see no reason why the bar cannot
be dredged to a depth of 80 feet, as
has been done in the harbor of Homo.
lulu, and within the estimated sum o.
$l05.000. given by Lieutenant Wood
There is but one dredger here and thai
Is owned by the Government and is il
constant use.
q would bring to the department.
netice the assistance rendered by Prof
W. ID. Alexander, Surveyor-General O.
Hawaii and Mr.. S. F. Dodge, his as