The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-11-23
History Of First Efforts for ATtGSill
Water.
is BY H. M. WHITNEY
There Was Much ConjeCture-PrO
cess Finally Came.
planters Monthly.

planters Monthly.
1t is now about twenty years since
the first artesian well was drilled on
Oahu. As the discovery and early his
tory of this immense water supply is
known to but few, it may be we'll 70
put on record the efforts 10 obtain #,
as well as the Heterogeneous en-
countered, with the ultimate success.
which has so greatly increased the ag-
ricuIturaI resources of Hawaii nei, has
made many comfortably off. and few
Quite wealthy, who, had it not been for
the discovery. might today be in Is
Strengthened circumstances as they
once We're.
Some twenty-five years ago, when
the need of more water began TO be
felt, especially for irrigation purposes,
the question Of subterranean reservoirs
was often spoken of, attention having
been drawn 10 it by the streams Of
fresh water seen pouring into the sea
between high and low water marks in
numerous localities along the shore.
near Diamond Head. at Eva and
along the Koolau coast, not TO speak
OF the large flowing streams from
underground sources at Kewalo, Ewa,
Moiliili and other places, all of which.
from prehistoric times, have furnished
the native Hawaiians living near by
with their daily supplies of pure fresh
water Here was the most convincing
proof that there must be some subJer-
ranean and abundant reservoir.
In 1875 the writer had correspond
ence with a party in California on the
subject of well-bOring, which was then
attracting considerable attention. In
the spring of 1876, Mr.. Charles Cester
arrived here. as the agent OF a hard
ware firm dealing in pumps and arte-
sian welI-boring tools. He brought
with him a set OF well-boring appar-
atus, to dispose of for the firm which
he represented, and offered to under
take any work, if encouragement was
given him, relying chiefly on aid from
the Hawaiian Government, as il was
thought the Government would will
! Iingly assist in such a commendable
! undertaking. The following notice of
| him appeared in the Hawaiian Gazette,
then edited and published by the writ
er of this article:
Mr.. Charles Oester, who is inter
ested in one of the iron establishments
/ in the State of California, arrived in
, the last steamer from San Francisco
bringing with him several thousand
/ dollars worth Of tools and appliances
! for boring artesian wells. The Ques-
ton has often been raised. as to
whether on these Islands so far away
/ from the Continent, artesian wells
/ would be practicable, and by some il is
I regarded as very doubtful. But there
is no question that such wells, if they
can be found to work successfully
would be OF immense benefit to the
I country. There are many tracts OF
land, on all the Islands, that are now
devoted 10 pasturage, furnishing {
seanty subsistence to horses, cattle anC
sheep. and which cannot by any mean:
be irrigated from existing streams Of
water We may mention as examples
the elevated plains between Eva anJ
Waialua on this island. the west hal
of Molokai, and tracts on Maui, incIud
ing the isJhmus between East anC
West Maui, and the long fertile plain!
of Waimea and Mana on Kauai. Al
these districts would be immediately
rendered available for agricultural pur
poses, if only provided with aTtesiaI
water and the capabilities and wealth
OF the country thereby immensely en-
HANGED. We are informed that Messrs
James Makee aud w. II. Cornwell o
Maui and Jno. II. COney cat that TIM
owner Of Honolulu Ranch at Pear
HarbOr, now the Eva MIL Estate
have expressed a Willingness 10 bea
half the cost of experimental wells
located one on the Maui Isthmus, anJ
the other on Oahu, provided the Gov
eminent will pay the other half. Thi
is an offer which does not often pre-
sent itself, and we urge on the Gov
eminent the importance of taking sucl
steps as may be necessary to settle thi
question. Mr.. OesCer is con
fdent that water can be found here a
the depth of $50 to 500 feet. 81 an ex
Dense of not exceeding three or fOu
thousand dollars. At any rate, III
boring OF an artesian well, even if !
proves unsuccessful as regards waite
supply, Will afford a valuable insigh
TO the geological structure of the coun
try, of which very little is nov
known"
Soon after the arrival Of Mr.. Oeste
in 1876. an interview was had witt
two members of the Cabinet, TO ascer
tain whether any assistance would b
given by the Government 10 a we'll
borer who would be willing in sue
caseto folIowtheir instructions, shout
any be given. One of the ministers VIII
had the reputation of being a scientis
of some note, began Immediately I
| raise OBJECTIONS to any experiment q
the kind here, saying that it was OF n
use 10 try 10 obtain flowing fresh wa