The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-02-17
Mr.. WhitlGy'S Plan TO Relieve The
Present Congestion.
ROOM MUST Be UTILIZED
Prepare for More BusIness-Abur'
Road 49, The Kaiihi Basin.

(Henry NJ. Whitney in the Planters
Monthly
The paramount question on the Wa
ter front is the enlargement OF the har-
Dor. The pessimist stands with folded
arms and says, 1T can't be done" The |
optimist replies. 1t can and must be
done" To drive a few piles, and extend |
one or two piers hundred or more |
feet farther out into the bay will prove |
but a temporary shift. tending only TO |
increase the trouble. All the open
space now in the harbor is needed for
warping and handling the huge steam
ships which the demands Of commerce
are constantly enlarging, by adding a
few feet to the depth and many more
to the length. This harbor space Is
neeoeu and should nOt he encroached
upon. Some plan besides that OF length
ening the present piers must be de-
veloped without delay. and when set
tied on, ways and means provided To
commence the work, and year by year
carry il on, gradually increasing the
wharf accommodations. and relieving
the congestion which Is threatened
within short time. If This work is not
done. Nothing prevents some practical
plan being adopted at once. except q
lack of determination to tackle IL. and
provide in the best way for the cN-
tension of wharves as the shipping in
cTeases.
h4- ssaI -
the only solution of this question. But
as that has been formally ceded to- the
United States for a naval station. IL j.
a question whether the territorial gov
ernment OF Hawaii can interfere with
the rights now possessed by the gen
eral government. in undertaking to 90
tablish docks and piers for commercial
and trade purposes in its waters. al
though there is ample room there for
both Nor is II certain. even u per
mission were granted. how long Il
would be before il would be revoked.
To wait the action or permission OF
the genral government OF the United
States, as regards wharf Improvements
in its waters. might prove to be very
embarrassing, 4 waste of time. and
perhaps of money expended. The de
mands of commerce require permanent
improvements that are no; likely to be
interfered with.
Leaving Pearl HarbCr as beyond the
sphere of present discussion, the ques-
ton arises. how can we make Homo
4 afv
mands of commerce for more wharf
and storage accommodations. especial
ly for coal. lumber. spars, lime. sugar.
cattle, live stock. hay. etc, which need
spacious or permanent provision, apart
from the ordinary demands OF trade
and shipping. and IL possible. away
from the busy streets Of the city. Ho-
nolulu harbor must be prepared for
any demands OF trade ana shipping.
and the sooner we are prepared. the
more certain it is that trade will come.
II is here tnat the commerce OF this
ocean is seeking admission for recru-
iting and storage place. and this de-
mand will continue TO increase as our
facilities are provided for ij. There Is
ample room. IL proper use Is made os
the conditions as they exist.
On the makai or westerly side ut the
harbor. which still remains as 10 was
when discovered in the early years OF
the present century. there IS abundant
space for wharf construction. Access
to 1t may be had by opening mac1-
dam road from King street. one hum
dred feet wide. along the base of Iwi,ei
BLUM on which the prison stands. then
bringing over = space OF three o. four
hundred feet TO allow the ebb and flow
OF water to.and from the Salihi basin.
II this be deemed necessary. From this
bridge on. new wharvcS may he con-
structed without interruption 90 near
the present lighthouse. which might
be removed 400 or 900 feet farther down
the channel. The coral stone. mud and
sand excavated for construction pur-
poses. would all be needed IN these