The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-28

WHARVES
Injunction is Not
Expected by
Mr.. Boyd.
NO LAW HAS
BEEN VIOLATED
Cotton Bros. Have No Contract
But Are Working for the
Territorial Government.

Supt Boyd of the Department of Pub
any possibility that the work on the big
HackfeId 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
1.-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
In 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
had to wait over a month before they
could supply the material, and as ii was
necessary to begin work right away,
Hackfelds bid was accepted.
Cotton Brothers receive a salary.
for experimenting the work, and besides
are paid a 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
! the treasury or an appropriation for the
purpose now, and that firm agreed to adj
vance the money, some $4,000 to $500, 900.
for the immediate use of the government.
They are to receive a 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 a consolidation with the Inter Island
government could not build the wharves
Immediately but as no funds were avail
able it was clearly impossible, and l told
them that if they advanced the money,
the government would make the appro-
priation at the next session of the legis-
I lature. 1t was the same way in Hilo.
| Upon our recent visit we We're 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 l believe the wharf
would more than pay for itself in a 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.
The wharf of the Oahu Railway and
Land Company is 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 Hackfeld line of boats
! will pay for itself within four or five
years. AS soon as these new WharPes
are completed the Public Works Depart
monies collected from wharves, and wa
| terfrcnt privileges, and show to the leg
islature just what the profits are each
year.
| "As far as Cotton Bros. are concerned
/ l believed they were entirely capable of
| building these wharves, and they were
also satisfactory to Hackfeld & Co. 9th
erwise 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