The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-12-13
FOR GEOLOGICAL
: SURVEY OF HAWAII
PLANS OF THAT DEPARTMENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
GOVERNMENT.
AN APPROPRIATION OF $4,000
ASKED.
Prof. Alexander Says Little Coast Sur
gical Work VIII Take Its Place

The United States Geological survey
has asked for an appropriation of $780,
600 with which to begin a complete
geological survey of these islands," said
Prof w. ID. Alexander this morning.
while of course, until congress acts
it cannot be known whether the appro-
priatiOn will be given or not, it is ex-
pected, and some very important scien-
tific work will doubtless be done. The
Geological Survey has done an immense
amount of the most accurate and in
teresting work in the United States.
While the Geological Survey is under
the Department of the Interior, and the
Coast and Geodetic Survey under the
Treasury Department the most cordial
relations exist between the heads of the
two surveys, as naturally should exist
between scientific men. In fact one of
the things that struck me while in
Washington was the high character of
the men in the scientific departments
OF government service.
1T is not probable that the Coast
and Geodetic Survey Will do much at
present in Hawaii. 1t is deVoting its
efforts just now to work in the Philip
pine Islands and a large number of its
best men have been sent there. There
was quite a struggle between the Coast
Survey and the Navy as to which
should be entrusted with this work in
the Philippines. The struggle went so
far as to cause a disagreement between
the two houses of congress. The matter
was finally settled in favor of the Coast
Survey and active work has already
begun. The old Spanish charts of the
Philippines are found exceedingly de-
fectiVe and incorrect and the work un
dertaken is very necessary. 1t is nat
ural therefore that the energies of the
survey should be devoted to it.
Among the scientific work of the
highest value just completed by the
scientific departments of the United
States government is the complete
measurement of a line across the Unit
ed States. This WIS accomplished by
means of a magnificent system of tri-
angulation with accurately chained
base lines. This measures a greater
arc of the earth's surface than was
ever measured with equal accuracy
anywhere else, and is of the highest
Importance in problems connected with
the earth's shape and measurements.
THE work to be done here by the
Geological survey will be of the same
high quality of accurate and thorough
scientific work"
Prof Alexander took with him his
completed list of the geographical
names of the points, places and objects
in the Territory of Hawaii. This list
was compiled at the request of the head
of the Coast and GeOdetic Survey, and
includes the name of every Ahupuaa
in the islands, of which there are more
than a thousand on the Island of Ha-
wall alone; and of all the larger ills,
which are subdivisions of AhupuaaS.
1t includes also the names of all capes,
headlands, channels, mountains, hills,
and all other natural objects having a
distinctive appellation. Inns list is now
being arranged in accordance with
plans and suggestions agreed on in con-
ference between Prof. Alexander and
the head of the survey, and it is eX-
pected that it will be published shortly.
1t will be accompanied by sufficient de-
finition of terms and historical signi-
ticance to make it valuable for the pur-
pose for which it is compiled, though
the plan of giving the native signifi-
cance of each name has not been fully
carried out owing to the impossibility
of finding the significance of so many
of them, their significance having been
lost long ago and not known now even
by the older Hawaiians.
Prof. Alexander is enthusiastic about
the Yale bi-centennial celebration. He
says it was the most magnificent thing
he ever witnessed and was planned and
carried out to the minutest details with
an accuracy and fitness for which too
high praise cannot be given.
Prof. Alexander's trip was under
taken largely for the benefit of his
health and greatly to the Improvement
Df IT,