The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-11-23


ter 10y means of ar.ssiau uoriuss any
where on these Islands. the formation
Of which was Of 50 recent volcanic ORR
gin. The conditions here De said. were
/ the very opposite OF what were requir-
ed in artesian basins. No argument
| however. could convince him that ue
might be mistaken and possibly "A
small body of water might De found
sufficient 10 pay the cost Of the expert
ment. and settle a very important ques-
( ton. The visitors who had called on
the ministers for assistance in this ex-
pertinent. Cof whom the writer was
OneD. received no cncoura cement in
/ that quarter and left the Government
surprised with the views expressed.
House very much disappointed and
| The Legislature was IN session at
this time in Honolulu. and there had
/ been several petitions and some COM
/ plants from the native Hawaiians.
whose water rights had been eucrDach-
| ed on. and the water diverted 20 cane
. and rice fields, which from time inn
memorial had been used solely for taro
and other native PREDICTS. At times
this debate was very heated. and
threatened 10 become a veNed question.
unless some compromise was made re-
garding il. The subject was finally re-
ferred to a commission. and sum
voted to meet any expenses that might
/ be incurred in investigating the agri-
! culural resources of the Islands.
/ Here seemed to be an opportunity to-
/ secure funds for M least one expert
meut in searching for artesian supplies
so greatly needed. 50 after the Legis-
|lauure had adjourned. another visit
was proposed To the Minister OF FL
nance. to ascertain If "a portion of the
amount voted TO investigate the sour
Ices and amount of water available for
/ agricultural purposes. might not be eN-
pended in sinking an arJesiau boring
/ as deep as the amount available would
IalIow. AS this was strictly within the
province of the commissioning search
| for new sources Of water for agricul-
uural purposes.-it was thought that no
objection could possibly he offered
against it, In company with Mr.. Oes-
ter. the writer again called on the Min
lister of Finance. and urged that the
water commissioners appointed under
! the resolution of the Legislature. be in
structed TO have we'll bored in any
l7-..r;.,- .I,,t ,ro,. -, ;,h- ga1a.f strong
lemphasis being laid on one point, that
if water should he found. il would not
only settle the question Of supply for
1.-The planting interests and the native
lHawaiians. but also for the city of
Honolulu. which needed more water.
jbut knew not where 70 obtain IL. The
minister. however. would listen To no
larguments His mind was made up.
I.There is no such thing as an artesian
supply here. These Islands rest on
Iporous lava and cora! foundation. Ii
there are caverns underground, they
lare filled with sea water. II any rain
water reaches the caverns, it becomes
isa't water at once. shall never allow
one dollar of the public funds TO b'
spent for this object" And none wa:
spent. The commissioners made Z
iunketing tour through the Islands
and reported that there was abundance
of water. if it was only carefully locke,
after. 1t is not TO be wondered ut, tina
Mr.. Oester returned to san Francisco
, his efforts having met with such otiicia
? rebuns.
In the spring OF 1S79-several year
after the first public agitation of Tn
subject in the Hawaiian Gazette-Mr
James Campbell. (whO had lately pur
; chased from Mr. Coney the Honolulu
. ranch at PuuloaD. while on visit e
California. made the acquaintance o
| Mr.. James Ashley father OF George W
5 Ashley of Bishop * COmpIny's hanR
a professional artesian Well bcrer, an,
! was invited by him TO visit San Jose
f where he was then engaged in well
= boring Mr.. Ashley explained to Mr.
l Campbell the principle of the artesiar
well. and the conditions necessary I,
: insure its success. Mr.. Campbell be
= came very much interested, and wa
/ convinced that his land at Pearl har
Dor. backed as il was by the Waiana
mountains. furnished very similar con
+ ditions to those where Mr.. Ashley Wa
2 operating. If water can be had in Sal
l / Jose. he said. it surely can be got some
:. where at Puuloa. He 1T once made u
}. his mind. and was willing TO take IN
1 chances in the venture, cost what
F. might. Without further delay, he pro
; posed to Mr.. Ashley TO go to Honolulu
making a generous offer for his ser
b vices. and as soon as his contract q
5 San Jose was finished, he accOmpanie
: Mr.. Campbell, arriving here in June
ISIS. The tool We're soon taken TO Pun
=, Loo aud on a low fiat of land near IN