The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-02
MANY NOW
USE SEWER
Demand for House
Connections
Large.

More than 1000 people of the city are
being served by the new sewer sys-
tenn, the number of connections now in
use being 246. When the inspection of
the system was made by the Acting
Governor and the heads of departments
on Monday there was a flow of five
inches through the sewer, into the tank
or reservoir. There are now in the
office of the superintendent of Public
Works many applications for connec-
tions with the system, but owing to the
shortage of plumbers in the city there
are few being made at this time.
The greatest use of the sewers is made
from the Eva side of Nuuanu stream,
where connections are made from the
many tenement houses. This puts the
system at the disposal of more than
1000 people at once. On the Waikiki
side of the stream the connections
made are principally of residences,
which accounts for the discrepancy in
the number of users of the new con-
duits. AS soon as it is possible for the
connections to be made there will be
many put in on this side of the stream.
and from the disposition to provide, the
houses with proper connections it is1ex-
pected that there will be general use
made Of the improved health conditions
before the winter is past.
an appropriation for the sewers will
tell heavily on the benefits from them,
as there was asked $4,000 for the COM.
pletion of the outfail portion of the
work. There are many portions OF The
work yet incomplete, but the principal
points which the Superintendent OF
Public Works wanted touched were the
extension of the main discharge pipes
and the further construction of the re-
lief pipes. 1t was the intention TO run
the regular pipes for discharge out to
the bell buoy, but now the system must
be used as it stands. The relief system
consists of pipe which runs now TO the
rifle butts, and which it is necessary to
extend much further to secure all the
benefits of the lines. This line of pipes
has for its purpose the carrying off of
a sudden rush of waters, which would
run into the sea from the full reservoir,
by gravity.
superintendent Boyd is now engaged
in hearing and making a decision upon
the appeal of the contractors. Vincent
& Belser, from the report of the engi-
VII ial, do IA firm nf contract
ors liable to a deduction, for leakages.
The amount of the deduction would ap-
proximate 81, 800 and the loss by leak
age is accounted for in such way that
there is foundation given for the claim
for payment on the part of the con-
tractors. The argument made yester-
day afternoon by Mr.. Vincent was that
the firm must not be made liable for
the leakages which come from the use
of faulty pipes. The pipe for the sys-
tenn was furnished by the Government,
ana there were some faulty joints. and
some which were damaged in transpor-
tation, so that while no imperfection
could be detected there was consider
able loss. One joint of pipe, which was
taken up by the contractor, showed no
visible break, but the loss of water
flcm it was nearly twenty-five gallons
a minute. The contractor argues that
when material was passed by the engi-
neer in charge, there should be no
charge against the contractor.
There is another point made that the
method of determining the amount of
leakage was not accurate. There were
turned into the, pipes the flow of three
artesian wells and the amount OF water
from them was measured. The amount
os water which reached the outfah was
next measured and the resultant factor
was charged to leakage. This it is said
is not sufficiently accurate to furnish a
basis for the actual leaks of the sys-
tenn and Mr.. Vincent has protested
against the conclusion so reached An
other point that the contractor makes
is that since the firm has been COM
PEELED to discount the Territorial paper
at the banks at per cent, the loss on
this item has been about 81 500, and If
to this is added the sum for leaks, there
will be no profit in the entire work.
Superintendent Boyd will give the mat
ter thorough investigation before max
ing his decision.