The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-23
ARMY WILL
HOLD FAST
A Site for Post at
kahauiki is
Favored.
OFFICERS ARE
FOR RETENTION
Many Leases of the Government
Which May Be the Cause
of Trouble.

Whatever may happen in the redis-
tribution of the public lands the reserva-
ton of the army department of the Ka-
hauiki tract of 1900 acres beyond Ka-
iihi will not be surrendered, unless there
is decided change in the policy of the
War Office
AS the leases of the tract have many
years to run. the range being from seven
TO fifteen years, there is no prospect
that there will be a post established at
once. Attempts have been made to pur-
chase the leases from the holders, but
the prices seemed to be exorbitant to
the officials of the army here, when il
was taken into consideration that there
Is so little use made of the lands. The
matter was then abandoned for the pres
ent though the opinions of the officials
have not been altered as to the advis-
ability of the post being placed there.
In common with all other officers of
the regular establishment who have look
ed over the tract, Major w. w. nobn-
son, Jr, the present depot quartermaster
has reported to the War Office at Wash
ington that the reservation forms an
ideal site for the construction of a post.
The report, it is said, goes over the
ground thoroughly and shows that there
will DE a valuable concession forfeited if
any of the plans which are said to be
in existence to take the land from the
War Department succeed. The plans for
the transfers of this reservation from the
War Department are said to have had
their origin In the Navy Departments
search for lands about Pearl Harbor,
which caused the suggestion to be made
that there might be effected a transfer
of lands about the water front for the
tract on the high lands. This suggestion
aroused the activity of the army officers
and they once more reported to the
Secretary that the site would be needed
should there be retained any command
here in the future.
The status of the United States as a
renter here is far from satisfactory
There are two of the lots which are in
corporated in the site of Camp Mckinley
for which 1t was necessary to draw new
leases this year, and these had to be
taken at an advance of $50 a month over
the rate which obtained last year. This
makes the cost of maintaining the camp
some $3.50 per month for rentals and yet
1t Is not advisable to move once more
taking up quarters on rented ground.
There is condition at Iwilei which may
cause the local officials some trouble yet
The lands which are leased there by the
Quartermaster are used for the horse
corral, and there is storehouse as we'll
in which are placed stores which are not
wanted in the general warehouse of the
department. Their is a chance that the
| lease of this holding, which Is one made
from month to month, may be closed
at any time now which would necessitate
search for a new place for the horses
and stores. There is now held a small
| plot of ground where the horses of pass
| ing transports have been held in the
past, known as Camp Ruhlen, on the
Asylum road, and this will be kept until
there is a definite conclusion of the mat
| tiers involving the Iwilei range.
! The demand for economy in the admin
| istration of the affairs of the quarter
masters department mas caused the con-
solidation of the business of the office at
| the old barrs cks and the offices which
adjoin it. Maj Robinson is having erect
ed on the Hotel street front, opposite
Likelike street, small office for his
personal use. In the office building are
located his clerks, and the work of the
reconstruction on the old barracks has
progressed TO such an extent that many
of the stores are now in place there
The building has been changed so greatly
| that it would not be recognized by its
| old friends. The central court being
rooted over forms place for the loading
| of wagons in wet weather, or for the
| storage of large consignment of goods
which arrive when there has been prepar.
ed no regular storage room.
| In the reconstruction of the building
the racks for small arms have been al.
lowed to remain 50 that in the event Of
q necessity for the use of the building
as a barracks the change which would b.
necessary would be slight. Every foo
was taken up and the ground beneath
treated with lime and disinfectants, 81
that there remained no possible infec
ton the level being raised by the films
In with black sand, which makes tn,
present floors lie firmly on the grount
: and prevents possibility Of there beins
any rats at any time in the future. TIL
interior has been arranged SO that Their
IS a constant current of air from on
end of the building to the other. TIL
Waikiki side Is given to the commissar,
store house and that of the Eva to tn
! quartermaster. Each of the stone tower
will be fitted with flooring, a miniatur
roof garden, and the central one vii
be surmounted by high flagstaff.
Under the arrangements which exis
between the War Department and tn
Territorial officers, the barracks are sti
being used by the militia but there ma
arise at any time an emergency whic
will necessitate the taking of 1t owe
by the general government. The neces
sity for the storing of the goods now 9
Iwilei would mean that the rooms woul
i have to be so utilized, while anothe
contingency might make 1t imperatiy
that the quarters be divided between til
troops of the post and local militar.
There has been recommendation b
Major Robinson, that If the need fe
economy is great the troops now her
could be provided with temporary qua
ters In barracks which might be erecte
on the Hotel street front Of the reserv;
ton. running back to the dispensary c
Miller street.
SHOULD this be done there would
necessity for a division of the time
the use of the drill hail. for both Il
regular and the militia organizatic
would have to use the same rooms.