The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-10-02
BENDING BOUGHS PLAY HAVOC
WITH WIRES.
Several Districts in Enforced Dark
ness-No Casualties Reported-Every-
thing viii be Repaired by Night.

wires of the electric light and the tele-
phone people
Alonzo Gartley General Manager of
the Hawaiian Electric Company stated
this morning that the interference caus-
ed by the bending boughs beneath the
weight of rain was much greater than
could possible have been anticipated.
Although fortunately there were no
accidents" said Mr.. Gartley, "such as
might have occurred had fallen wire
touched a person or animal, the trou-
bic of last night is an object lesson to
those who have hitherto set up sire
nuous objections against the trimming
of trees even within reasonable limit
The fact of the possibility of a live wire
dropping in front of their doors will
open the eyes of the public in general to
the advantage of having their trees
pruned generously where the wires pass
They can better afford to have the
foliage trimmed than to dispense with
electricity or run the risk of endanger-
ing passers by and their own household
In other cities wherever wires pass, an
open circular pathway for them is per-
mitted to be trimmed without objection
Hawaii too, has in her trees several
that are particularly susceptible to the
effects of a rain storm similar to last
night. There is a monkey pod tree on
Nuuanu street this morning that yes
tops of the passing cars and today
brushes them as they run underneath.
Algeroba trees that have a habit of
throwing out their roots to windward,
have no supports to keep them upright
when the wind changes and comes in
from the south
"Cocoanut trees with their long stems
are a source of danger to the wires. 1t
requires very little wind to bend them
several feet out of their original posi-
tion and the weight of a constant rain
on their crowns is alone sufficient to
keep them leaning at an angle where
they will interfere with the wires. There
are many places on the lines such as
on the Waikiki road, where they are
within a few feet of the lines.
Even with the little pruning that we
have been able to accomplish the usual
bending of the water laden boughs was
a source of surprise. After a long
drought such as we have had of late,
it seems as if the trees had not the
vigor to sustain their limbs. Rain soon
strengthens them however and a similar
downpour a week from now would not
cause them to drOop nearly as much as
last night"
THE foliage of trees in these islands
grows so rapidly that, even with a
liberal space allowed for the passing of
the wires, a force of men would have to
be almost constantly at work trimming
the fresh growth.
THE first trouble last night occurred
early in the evening at the Waikiki
turn on King street. Under ordinary
circumstances the fuse there should
have given way, but as it happened the
fuse in the power house burned out in
stead, leaving the linemen with the
knowledge that there was a break some
where in the long circuit of five miles
h inl, 70 hn rod hAfn
the residents of that quarter could get
light for their dinner toilet and their
meals. Tests accomplished by breaking
one leg of the various primaries located
the leak and the current was re-estab-
lished by little after seven o'clock.
Later in the evening, when the trou-
BILE was accommodating in different
quarters of the city, the wires again
played out opposite the Melrose. leaving
the Waikiki and Makiki portion of the
city in darkness for the rest of the night
A brilliant pyrotechnical display follow
ed the fall of the wife lighting up the
vicinity at the WaikikiEwereevredn
vicinity in a glare that was plainly
visible at the Waikiki Inn.
Reports came in of breaks a Nuuanu
and School streets, on account of the
breakdown of one of the legs of the
primary, one at Kakaako and one on
Judd street Nuuanu street above
Pawaa, Waikiki and the section above
Kinau We're thus in darkness the breaks
all occurring between 8 and 10 o'clock"
Close to 10 o'clock, while the last act
of the Belle of New York" was in pro-
gress, a report, followed by a brilliant
flash reflected in the corner of the house
Immediately above the right hand stage
boxes, startled the audience momenta-
Irily into the belief that a fuse had
blown out somewhere behind the
scenes. The performance went on how
ever without interruption and few
realized what had happened until they
came out to go home.
Despite the downpour, the trees
along the makai wall of the Capitol
grounds were burning where the skirt
ing wires were in contact, while in
one place a live strand had fallen to
the ground and was illuminating the
scene with brilliant blue calcium effect
Ieclipsing the brightest theatrical effort.
Chester Doyle directed the hacks to be
moved out of the way of possible dan
ger and beyond a passing scare no
great harm was done. The drivers OF
Pains arks picked their way over the
tracks somewhat gingerly in both di-
rections for the balance of the night
traffic and everyone was on the qul
lvive for a possible accident which for
tunately did not occur. The Rapid
| Transit experienced no dlihculty WIN
the running of their cars or overhead
wires.
Linesmen were sent to the breaks
from the Electric Company and the
damage repaired as far as eliminating
the danger from burning wires. There
was no excitement after IL O'Clock al
though the men were working late into
the night locating and repairing
| breaks.
Manager Gartley has several men out
this morning on the same work. The
Hawaiian hotel connection is broker
through the burning of fuse. Trees
are being trimmed also in the Capito
grounds where the fires occurred anC
in other places. Everything will be II
perfect workinr order by tonight will
no danger of a recurrence, according
to the opinion of Manager Gartley.
Lights were out in Nuuanu vale!
last night and there was an unsubstan
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