The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-03-26
JOINS TOWN
AND OCEAN

annoying delays Hllu Is 10 nave Col-
nection with deep water by means of
the Hilo Railway and long wharf TO
be built from the Reid piers, and eN-
tending nearly six hundred feet out
into the bay with this the vessel Of
average dimensions entering the har-
Dor VIII be able to load and discharge
cargo without the expense Of lighter
age, except to "A limited extent
L. A. Thurston vice president of the
Hio Railway Company, has been in
town tor two weeks past getting mat
tiers into shape for the extension of
the railway to Waianuenue street,
and 50 far the result is highly salts
factory. Ten days ago the engineer
corps VI the company was ordered from
Olaa 70 lilo to run the line, and this
has been finished In the meantime
Mr.. Inurston has been securing the
right of way from the few individual
owners of land along the proposed
route.
1T was the wish of the company
year and "A half ago to build wharf
in Hio," said Mr.. Thurston yesterday,
but for some reason OF other proba-
bly, because the government of the ISL
ands was in "a state of transition, the
executive did not consider 1t advisable.
Now that the Territorial government
controls the front to high water mark,
and the waters in the bay are under
the control of the federal authorities.
the company will submit plans to the
officials at Honolulu, and if their
sanction is obtained they will forward
them TO Washington for approval and
permission to build the wharf. AS 1t
is to be built entirely without govern
ment assistance the company does not
anticipate any objection from either
quarter.
1T was believed when the Hilo Rail
way was started that the Waiakea sta
tion and depot would be sufficient, but
experience has demonstrated that 1t is
too far from the business center both
in the interests of the railroad and
the public. The plans have been sub
mitted to leading citizens and APPROX
ed by them; and such approval has
taken the form of recommendation
to the Territorial and Federal authori-
ties to approve the proposed extension
and wharf.
The plan embraces line from the
present terminus at Waiakea to the
town side of the Wailuku river. The
railroad will cross the river at Waiakea
just where the track ends, and on this
side the rails will cross the beach road
about three hundred feet west of the
old bridge, and continue along the
beach on the makai side of Hack
fields lumber yard to the propos-
ed terminus. The line will approach
quite close to the lumber yard of the
Hilo Mercantile Company, and in order
TO accommodate these extensive ship
pers sidings for their special use will
be built. Commencing near where the
line first strikes the beach another line
will begin and extend along the water
front, on the Waiakea side of the bay,
TO the Kinau wharf. AT the point
where cement abutmentS are located,
and known as Reds pier near the XII
nau wharf 1t is proposed that a wharf
be constructed to deep water, extend
ing out into the bay six hundred feet
or more to a point where the minimum
depth of water is twenty-four feet.
This will enable most of the vessels
coming into port to dock. OF course,
it does not include the largest vessels,
or any vessels drawing more than
twentyfour feet. 1t Is possible that
some of the California vessels will have
to lighter a portion of the cargo, but
it will not be enough to make any
material difference"
Asked if it would not be better to
build out to where sufficient water
could be had. so that the largest sail
ing vessels could dock, Mr. Thurston
said
The soundings made show an aver
age depth of twenty-four feet Tor quite
a distance, and to get thirty or more
feet would require wharf off Cocoa
nut Island, which Is impracticable IN
til a breakwater is constructed. If you
will notice, even in this calm weather.
the brig Spreckels. as she lays in deep
water, is rocking considerably in the
swell. 1t would be impossible for a
vessel to tie up with any degree OF
safety at this point beyond Cocoanut
Island When the government builds
a breakwater 1t will be time to con-
slider the advisability of wharf that
will accommodate the larger steamers
and sailing vessels.
The matter of building two bridges
across the Waiakea may be questioned |
by persons who are not familiar with |
the existing conditions. You will re-
member that the Kohala-Hilo Railway
Company obtained a lease to certain
lands at Waiakea. and should the Hilo |
Railway Company run track to the !
wharyes without coming on this side ,
first, they would have to cross their |
tracks. In order to avoid this the
is necessary, so as not to interfere In !
any manner with the other road. Con-
struction to Waianuenue street is not .
to be done as menace to the Kohala-
Hilo Company, nor is the Hilo Railway |
encroaching upon any Of their lines.
The Hilo Railroad Company does not
propose to interfere with the compa-
n.y. but earnestly hopes 1t will build
the line through Hilo and Hamakua.
As it will be good feeder for the Hilo
Railroad. Rumors concerning the pos
sbility OF the work on that road being
pushed have not been favorable during
the past two weeks but for all that,
hope Mr.. Gehr will be successful in
his undertaking.
1T is not proposed that the govern
ment shall build the wharf The plan
is to have II built by the combined
interests centered In Hilo formed into
"A separate corporation, rather than
have one company pay all the expense
i...d control H. This plan has been
submitted to those who do the most
and has met with their hearty
approval and Will receive their finan-
clal support, II is proposed that after
a certain time, should the government ,
wish To acquire the property II may ,
do No by paying the cost Of the wharf
otherwise II viii be controlled by the ,
shippers You Will gather from this ,
that the representative people OF Hllo, 4
the combined interests Of the place are
centered upon this plan 20 advance Hio /
90 point IN the world ~ commerce 4
where II viii receive the recognition - /