The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-05-17
OUR SYSTEM Of STREETS
HOW IT MAY BE VERY GREATLY
IMPROVED.
A Comprehensive Plan Proposed and
the Advantages of it Pointed Out
History of the Subject.

History of the Subject.
| EDITOR STAR: Your claim on be-
half of Col. George +. Mcleod as the
| author of the plans for the extension Of
| water 'front.' between Fort street and
] Alakea street, reflects great credit on
1 that gentleman's wisdom and foresight
| but II lacks the very necessary founda-
| ton of fact. The proposed new street
has been in contemplation for a number
OF years by the members of the staff of
the Survey Bureau, and probably was
suggested long before Col. McLeod's
arrival in Honolulu. Probably Prof.
Alexander or G. j. Lyons or j. f. Brown
has had it in view many years, and il
was suggested by the writer as long ago
as 1871, on almost the same lines as
now proposed
Again, during the smallpox epidemic
of 1881, it was sketched out on plan
of the city, beginning with the widen
| ing of Garden Lane, from Beretania
street, to Union street thence through
a part of the Bell Tower premises, and
cutting all the intervening blocks as
far as Queen street. at Edinburgh
street
Again in 1885 it was suggested to the
Road Supervisor and the Minister of tn
Interior, on about the same lines
In 1895, as member of the commits
sion on Electric Street Railways, with
p. G. Jones and f. A. Schaefer, l urged
the opening of this new street as a re-
lief to the crowded Fort street, and as
a route for the proposed street railway,
between, and parallel with the Tram
way lines, on Fort and Alakea streets,
as affording an outlet from the bust
ness portion of the city to Beretania
and thence up Emma street to the val
ley.
In 1896 in preparing a schedule of
street improvements for the legisla-
ture of that year, the same plan was
laid before President Dole, on about
the same lines, giving a direct COM
munication from Beretania street to
Queen street, but the matter was not
included in the act passed that year.
Early in the present year, new
street between the Brewer Estate and
the Bishop Estate properties was pro-
posed by Messrs. Carter and Gait,
agents of the former estate, but aban-
doned in favor of the other location, as
being too near Fort street.
In April, Alexander Young opened
negotiations with the trustees of the
Bishop Estate for the proposed i'm
proVements between Hotel and King
streets, but with the view of the future
extension to Queen street The lines
OF new street were finally determined
upon after careful consideration, and
with the advice of Walter e. Wall, as
sistant in charge of the Survey Bureau.
who has closely studied these matters
The plan proposed includes a 60-foot
street all the way through, but Irwin
& Co. is on the line of the best location.
In view of the great value of the open
ing of this street, the removal of this
warehouse should not stand in the way
should it be deemed necessary to open
4
are much too long, and the streets too
narrow for the business of the city, ana
| property owners would profit by the
opening, If ii is undertaken at an early
day, before other permanent buildings
are erected
This important case brings up the
general question of street paving and
widening, which demands the close at
tention of every resident and owner in
the city. Many improvements have
been provided for by the Legislative
acts of May, 1885, and few of them
are now in progress. The Chinatown
fire and the resultant condition of that
locallty- affords fine opportunity for
further plans for the betterment of our
city, which should be undertaken at
once. Smith street should be extended
both ways; makai to the harbor front.
and mauka to Kukui or Vineyard street.
and Maunakea street should be extend
ed mauka to the same limits, with an
other cross street between Beretania
and Kukui. Kekaulike street ought to
run mauka as far as Beretania street,
Chaplain Lane widened and extended
to the river, Pauahi street opened
through to Fort street, and perhaps 10
Union street. Kukui street should be
extended clear through to the ASYLUM
Road in one direction, and to Emma
Square in the other, and VINEYARD
extension no
completion at once.
Among the much needed extensions
are the following, viz: The opening of
Hotel street through the Seminary
Block to the junction of Young street,
and Aiapai street at the Rapid Transit
Company's power house and the eX-
tension of Richards street through the
Punahou school grounds after the cree
ton of the new schoolhouse on the Mil
Ter estate lot recently purchased for
that purpose No one doubts the neces-
sity of widening and extending Fort
street all the way up, or the widening
of Hotel street on the lines already
adopted, and these should be carried
through this year,
Property owners should awake to the
necessity and the value OF all these
changes in our city, and the authorities
should not be asked excessive prices for
the land required. In nearly every case
the values are enhanced by the Inn
provements, and owners should recog-
nize the fact in filing claims for dam
ages. Don't charge the Government at
the rate of $40 or $15 per square foot
for land which should be donated free
of charge for public improvements sure
to result in benefits to the owners and
the general public.
FRANK s. DODGE.
Honolulu, May H.