The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-06-17
UNCLE SAM AFTER PEARL HAIR
BOR STATION SITE.
Important Dispatch Received Today
From Washington Stating That Con-
demnation Proceedings Win be begun.

If the people who own lands sur
rounding Pearl Harbor expect to rea-
llze any large profits from the sale
OF their property to the United States
government as site for the new naval
station, they are doomed to disappoint-
ment As a matter of fact, the govern
menL has already taken steps to pre-
vent being forced to pay eXorbItant
prices. The land which is desired by
the governments will be condemned.
Proceedings will shortly be brought in
court to secure this disposition OF the
property desired. The following dis
patch which came in the late news to-
uay announces the intentions of the
government regarding this point.
WASHINGTON, June AT the re-
quest of the Secretary of the Navy the
Attorney-General has INSTRUCTED the
United States District Attorney at Ho-
nolulu to institute proceedings imme-
diately for the condemnation or certain
lands on the boruer of Pearl Harbor on
the island of Oahu, selected as a site for
the proposed naval station. The naval
commandant at Honolulu mas been in
structed to cooperate with the District
Attorney and render all necessary as
sistence. Condemnatory proceedings
were necessitated by the action of the
owners of the property in refusing to
sell 1t except at what was regarded as
an exorbitant price"
NO adViceS have as yet been received
by either the district attorneys office
or by Acting Commandant Pond. 1t is
likely that the orders and instructions
covering the matter will be secured in
the mail brought by the Zeafandia to-
day or else in a subsequent mail from
San Francisco. This decision on the
part of the Secretary of the Navy was
not unexpected by Captain Pond, al
though he had received no recent ad-
vice whatever upon this point
The decision of the Navy Depart
ment not to be cinched was probably
reached at a recent meeting of the
Barker board held the latter part of
May in Washington. The Barker board
made certain recommendations regard
ing the acquisition of land about Pearl
Harbor but subsequently other infor-
nation upon this point was supplied
the Navy department by Captain Pond.
He declined to state the nature of the
information he supplied mis- superiors
but it evidently had something to do
with the price OF lands about Pearl
Harbor as he had been instructed by
the Navy Department To fully inquire
il - the price of lands at all parts of
the harbor and this was carefully done.
After this report was received at
Washington the Barker Board was nur-
fledly reconvened. The purpose of this
unexpected meeting of the board was
not made public from the fact that
the report sent by Captain Pond differ
ed materially from that made by the
Barker board it is likely that the re-
concentrations of Captain Ponde were.
the subject of discussion The board
evidently decided not to waste money
paying eXorbitant prices for the land
IN question but choose the condemn a -
ton proceedings as the easiest method
OF securing the land at some figure like
its real value.
Just where the government intends
TO select land for the proposed station
is not known. Captain Pond made a
very thorough inquiry regarding the
prices OF all lands about the harbor.
AT least 20 acres will be required and
II is very possible that considerable
more will be secured. Congress has
appropriated $l50,000 for the purpose of
securing land for the naval station and
for the defence of the channel. This
clause of the bill is not very clear for
the land necessary for the defence of
the channel may be far greater than
the naval people now have in mind.
United States District Attorney Baird
rs now absent in the States on account
or his health and will not return for a
month or more. During his absence ].
j. Dunno of the attorney generals de-
partmnt will attend to some of the cases
in the Federal court 1t is not Iikelv
however that any action toward the
condemnation of the lands about Pearl
| Harbor will be taken before Mr..
Baird"s return.