The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-10-29
HACKFELD'S
WHARVES
Injunction is Not
Expected by
Mr.. Boyd.

Supt Boyd Of the Department OF Pub
lie Works does not believe that there Is
any possibility that the work on the big
Hackfeld wharf now In process of con-
struction will be stopped by Injunction
as certain contractors are reported to
have threatened. Mr. Boyd stated yes
terday that he was wholly within the
provisions of the law In allowing Cotton
Bros. to do the work, which is really be-
ing performed by the Public Works De-
partment, Cotton merely experimenting
the work for the government
The law relating to the construction
of public works, and providing that bids
must be called for when the amount of
the contract exceeds $500 does not apply
to this case at all. said Superintendent
Boyd yesterday. IF that were true the
Public Works Department could do moth
Ing at all under such restrictions and its
hands would be tied when it came to
make any repair or Improvement upon
n public building or work of any kind.
I'm this case tenders were asked for
the lumber of be used in the wharves.
and the contract was awarded to Hack
field & Co. The bid Of Allen & Robinson
was a trife lower, but as we would have
had to wait over a month before they
could supply the material. and as 1t was
necessary to begin work right away.
Oiu was uNSSptSu.
Cotton Brothers receive a salary.
for experimenting the work, and besides
are paid commission for the use of
their machinery and tools. The contract
is not different from many others
which have been let in the past"
THE building of the wharf is made
possible only through the liberality of
Hackfeld & Co. There are no funds In
the treasury or an appropriation for the
purpose now, and that firm agreed to ad-
vance the money, some $4,000 to s200.0O0
for the immediate use of the government.
They are to receive low rate of inter-
est. and rely upon the first legislature
to make the appropriation for their re-
payment. They are of course, Interested
parties and anxious to have the wharves
built as soon as possible, otherwise they
would not be completed in time for their
use. The same offer was made to the
Wilder Company when there was talk
of n consolidation with the lnter-Island
Steamship Company. i was asked If the
government could not build the wharves
Immediately but as no funds were avail
able It was clearly impossible. and told
them that IL they advanced the money.
the government would make the appro-
priation at the next session of the legis-
lature. 1t was the same way In Hilo.
Upon our recent visit We were approach
ed and asked to build wharves at once,
and when it was seen that that could
not be done the parties offered to do
the work themselves, of the government
would grant the concession, and allow
them to collect the wharfage, This offer
was refused. as believe the wharf
would more than pay for itself in few
years. The same proposition was made
to them. as the one under which Hack
field wharf is now being constructed, and
1t may still be accepted in Hilo.
1.-The wharf of the Oahu Railway and
Land Company IL owned by that COM
pany and was built by them under the
concession from the government. The
company collects all the wharfage and
water rents and 1t is a paying PROPOSE
ton. 1 believe this new wharf which Is
being built for the Iiackfeld line of boats
will pay for itself within four or five
years. As soon as these new wharves
are completed the Public Works Depart
ment will keep n separate account CT all
monies collected from wharves, and wa
terfront privileges. and show to the leg
islature just what the profits are each
year.
"As far as Cotton Bros. are concerned.
believed they We're entirely capable of
building these wharves, and they were
also satisfactory to Hackfeld & Co. 9th
erWlse they would not be allowed To DO
the work. They come from Oakland.
where they built some of the largest
wharves. Among others one for the
steamer Alameda.
Il am certain there is nothing illegal
about the work now being done, and
the legislature at its next session will
undoubtedly reimburse Hackfeld Co.
for the money advanced by them for the
construction of these wharves which
every one will admit are needed at
this time"