The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-07-08
UNITED STATES BRINGS SUIT TO
CONDEMN.
Wants S2S.1 Acres for $16,S0O-Part of
Oahu Railway Right of Way is Con-
demned.


eral Knox, and acting District Attorney
Dunno of Honolulu, has brought suit
in Judge Estee's court to condemn
S2S1 acres of land at Pearl Harbor.
The complaint sets forth that the lapd
is needed for a naval station, that the
owners refuse to name a price at which
they will sell, and that fair valuation
is $16,S00. A part of the land sought to
be condemned is right of way of the
Oahu Railway company, which will
have to make changes in it's routes If
the government takes the land.
The title of the action is United
states of America VS.. Estate of Ber-
nice Pauahi Bishop, deceased, and j. o.
Carter w. f. Allen, w. o. Smith, S. M.
Damon, and A. w. Carter, trustees un-
der the will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop,
deceased and of the estate of said Ber-
nice Pauahi Bishop, deceased; and
Oahu Railway and Land Company, the
Dowsett Company, the Honolulu Sugar
Company, and Honolulu Plantation
Company, Chow All Foy, John Ii estate
Limited, William G.. Irwin, Oahu Sugar
Company, Limited, and Bishop &
Company.
With the complaint was filed as an
exhibit blue print map of Pearl Har-
Dor, showing the lands wanted and an
affidavit of Captain c. f. Pond, acting
Naval officer of Honolulu, declaring
the facts set forth to be true TO the best
of his belief and knowledge. The LAM
to be condemned is divided as to own
ership as far as petitioner is aware of
ownership as follows:
b. z. Bishop Estate, ...... 635 acres
b. P. Bishop Estate, lot g.. 1916 acres
John Ii Estate. te................ 41.5 acres
The complaint sets forth the follow
ing:
THAT petitioner was and still is in
vested with the power, right and capa-
"a
hold all such real estate whereeyer ST.
tuate within it's jurisdiction, as may be,
for any purpose, necessary to the due
EXCISE of it's powers and duties; and
in Pursuance of and to said power, right
and cacpacity said plaintiff and petit
tioner has been and is now desirous of
purchasing, acquiring, condemning and
holding those certain tracts and par
GELS of land and their appurtenances
situate within the limits of the afore-
said district and hereinafter more par
ticularly described, for the erection and
maintenance thereon of a naval sta
ton and harbor and channel Defense a
public use to and for which said tracts
and parcels of land are necessary and
indispensable"
1t is set forth in the bill that the
lands in question are all situated in and
about Pearl Harbor and that the pur-
pose for which it is desired to con-
denim the lands is "the erection and
maintenance of a naval station and
harbor and channel defense for the use
and purposes of the government of the
United States of America and of the
Navy Department of said government
and for the Improvement of the harbor
and channel leading thereinto, and for
the Improvement of the harbOr and
channel leading thereinto by removing
distractions therefrom and widening,
deepening and Strengthening said chan
mel, together with the erection and
maintenance upon said tracts and par
cells of land and their said appurtenan-
ces of all such public buildings, rorti-
fications, magazines, arsena1S, navy
yards, lighthouses, range and beacon
lights, quarantine stations, pest houses,
hospitals, wharves, drains, bridges,
cemeteries, reservoirs roads, etc, etc."
The necessity for acquisition of the
land by the United States Is said to be
the act passed March 3, making ap-
preparations for the Pearl Harbor sta
ton and also "the present rapid de-
Velopment of the commerce of the Pa
cific Ocean and the singular location of
said Pearl Locks. with reference to
said commence, relative to its value as
a place of refuge, repair, Instructions of
masters, protection to shipping, refuge
for merchant vessels in time of war,
land-locked deep water anchorage, ca
side attack and capabilities as the only
defensible harbor within the said dis
trict of Hawaii;
And also from the imperative need
in a naval station of dry-docks, work
and repair shops, coaling station of
large capacity with sheds, coal pockets,
chutes and sheltered anchorage and
berthing space for tugs, lighters, barges
coal hulks, etc, extensive grounds for
marine barracks, parade grounds and
still larger area for drilling large bodies
of sailors and marines, ample camping
grounds for marine barracks, ample
camping grounds for any naval force
that would be rendeZvoused in time of
war, hospital accommodations with
surrounding grounds, cemetery facili-
ties, ample and suitable space for
magazine purposes"
The complaint sets forth that the
United States has repeatedly asked the
owners of the land to name the price
at which they would be willing to sell,
but that the owners neglected and re-
fused to name prices.
At to that part of the land now in