The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-09-12
PEARL HARBOR.

The survey of ,ne land which the
FEDERAL Government viii take up for
the purposes of a naval station at Pearl
Harbor will begin. This is get
ting nearer and near to realization of
schemes which have been exploited for
half a century past. BY those who
could look far enough ahead Pearl
Harbor with it's deep waters right up
to the shore line in several parts has
ever been an ideal naval station. An
immense fleet could lie embosomed on
its waters, and yet there would be room
for any quantity of other shipping.
OF surveys of the barbor, one might
almost say their name is legion. All
the navies of the world almost have had
a nibble at one or more. Steam launches
have sounded here there and every
where Whale boats have carried naval
officers into every ramification of the
contours, and Captains gigs have skim
med over the surface of the CLASSY wa
tiers, while the captains themselves have
discussed learnedly upon the advan-
tages of the various arms of the lochs,
and in their minds eye have seen docks
and wharVes, and machine shops oc-
cupy the then waste lands along the
shores.
Not only has the harbor itself been
mapped and surveyed, but great at
tention has been given to the bar at the
entrance. Thirty and forty years ago
it seemed as if it would be impossible
10 a oh of Vol
heavy expense indeed. BY many In
those days the bar was regarded as
prohibitive of the use of this magniti-
cent sheet Of water. But better know
ledge of the bar and better means,
which modern mechanical skill, has
provided to clear away such obstacles,
has rendered this portion Of the
scheme comparatively easy, and COM
paratively cheap. What used to be
talked of as an almost unparalleled
work will now be considered as no very
great engineering achievement. The best
knowledge and most accurate survey
and experimental work upon the bar
was obtained by the late lieutenant
Max Woods u. S ~. who some six or
seven years ago spent a long time en-
camped at Pearl Harbor, with a con-
sid~"able party of blue Jackets and
gathered a fund of valuable informa-
ton as to material through which to
cut and sofoIth. His survey showed
how easily the work could be done
Had the Federal authorities. some
years ago, been able to forsee the
changes which We're likely to take place
in the surroundings of Pearl Harbor.
they might have given their attention
TO obtaining the land which would be
required for the naval station and have
held it through some confidential agent.
But the idea remained firm in the minds
of those who visited the Iochs that the
shores would always remain barren and
desOlate and that the land thus lying
idle and apparently valueless, could be
obtained at any figure. This was the
view of Congressman Cannon, the
watchdog Of the Treasury when he IN
company with Senator Morgan, and
other Senators and Representatives,
spent day in steaming round the har-
bOr and giving it a thorough examina-
tion.
The appearance of the shores of Pearl
Harbor and Of Ford s Islands, however,
is very different now. from what it was
then. Oahu and Honolulu plantations
did not exist and the slopes towards
the backbone of the island looked brown
and bare under the July sun. But all
this has changed Those brown lower
hills are covered with the emerald green
of waving cane, and the barren slopes
are dotted with laborer's villages. The
magic of water has called the dead
earth into life, and land which only
supported a few cattle, now yields tons
of sugar to the acre
Not only have the slopes down to the
waters edge been cultivated and now
return wealth for the labor and capital
expended upon them, but it has been
found practicable to get water on to
Ford Island, and that waste of AL
garoba trees is covered with a crop of
the most luXuriant cane. OF course the
value of these lands has increased. The
owners have no prospective increase,
they have an actual increase in value
which can be demonstrated in dollars
and cents. " 81.
The question of values, however, will
be adjusted, and the great point which
all who have the advancement of the
Territory at heart will be settled, the
establishment of the United States
Naval Station in the mid Pacific. Such
an establishment will boom the Island
of oahu.