The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-12-03
READY To
| 60 AHEAD
War Departmental
| Begin Its
| Work.
MILITARY POST
ESTABLISHED
Federal Officials Instructed to Cat
Possession of Leases on Mill.
tary Reservation.

of the largest and most complete mill
tary posts in the country. Authorize
ton was received by United States At
torney Breckons in yesterdays mail to
act in conjunction with Major Edgar
Davis. head of the military forces OF
Hawaii, and Captain G.. NICK. William
son, depot quartermaster, in securing an
available site in order that work might
be commenced Immediately.
There are four sites under consid-
Grafton, all of land already reserved
for the use of the United States army,
but upon which leases are held by pri-
vate parties. The sites from which the
choice will be made are located at Dia-
mond Head, Moanalua, Punchbowl and
Pearl Harbor, and the officials expect
that they will be able to send to Wash
ington upon the Peru, December 18th,
notification of the acceptance of an Of
fer for the leases upon one of these
tracts, which will be submitted to the
Secretary of War.
United States Attorney Breekons is
under instructions to secure the desired
tract amicably if possible, but if a fair
value is not placed upon the site so
chosen, then to proceed to condemn the
tract. 1t is the wish of the Federal
authorities here to procure the can
collation. of the necessary leases to the
site selected, as soon as possible, in
order that there can be no delay in the
commencement of the work of estab-
fishing a military post on Oahu.
If legal action is necessary there will
probably be a delay of one or two years,
as is the case in the Pearl Harbor
suits, and there will be an indefinite
delay in the beginning of the work.
There is an appropriation of $4,000, 900
for the building of coast Notifications in
the general military bill, which contains
also provision that a portion of this
may be used for the purchase of leases
in Hawaii
The section of the bill referred to is
as follows:
For the construction of buildings
and the enlargement of such military
posts, as in the judgment of the Sec
rotary of War, may be necessary, and
for the erection of barracks and quar-
tiers for the artillery in connection with
adopted project for sea-coast defenses,
and for the purchase of suitable build
ing sites for said barracks and quar-
ters,-two million dollars: Provided
that the Secretary of War is authorized
to acquire leases in such lands in Ha-
wall as have been set aside for purposes
of a military post"
The military authorities are anxious
that an amicable settlement of the
leases desired may be reached at once,
as the appropriation will be available
only to June 30th, 1908, unless Congress
acts in the meantime The most de-
sirable offer taking into consideration |
the needs of the War Department will |
be accepted, subject of course to ap-
prevail by the Secretary of War. In
case no agreement is reached con-
demnation proceedings in the United !
States court will be necessary, as was
the case in the Pearl Harbor matter.
If there is no delay in the acquisition |
of the site the first of the year will
probably see the commencement of
work upon a military post in Honolulu. |
Any part of the s2,OOO,O0O appropriated
by Congress may be used for this pur-
pose within the discretion of the Sec
rotary of War, but it is said that it is
the intention of the War Department to
make the military post here one of the
finest in the United States. Besides
the Improvement of the land which will
probably be begun almost Immediate
ly, the establishment of a military post
here, will mean the construction of bar
racks, fertilization, water works, hospi-
tai buildings, stables, etc. Upon the
completion of the work large force of
men will probably be permanently sta
toned here by the United States, so
that the sooner the work begins the
better viii it be for Honolulu