The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-01-21
RAIL WAY OR
BOULEVARD?
s. T. Alexander is
to Consider the
Question.

A conference was held yesterday
morning between s. T. Alexander, pro
jector of the boulevard proposed along
the Makiki foothills to Mount Tantalus,
and Messrs. Desky ana Pratt. repre-
senting the Pacific Heights Railroad.
/ The conference was productive of no
promises on the part of Mr.. Alexander
/ that his original pan to give a boule-
ward to the city of Honolulu would be
/ set aside, or that he would aid in the
construction of an extension of the
present Pacific Heights Electric Rail-
way from its present terminus to
Mount Tantalus and Sugar Loaf. Mr.
| Alexander stated that for the present
he would study both propositions. He
stated that he had had a talk with AS
sistant Superintendent of Public Works
/ Campbell with reference TO making
new surveys for the boulevard, and
that upon the result Of these depended
/ largely his decision as to whether the
road would be constructed.
Ii has been given out that Mr.. AL
eXauder is in sympathy with the prop
osition to extend the Pacific Heights
Railroad to Tantalus and Sugar Loaf,
seeing the possibilities of making the
magnificent mountain an attraction
from a scenic standpoint. which would
make it well worth the expenditure of
n large sum OF money. But having
proposed to give a boulevard he will
make an exhaustive study before
turning his attention TO new project.
In the development Of the electric rail-
road around Sugar Loaf he also saw
for the future the building of a large
number of pretty villas upon the
wooded slopes of Tantalus. and land
now occupied only by heavy forests,
would soon be dotted with the homes
of those who would court res dence
far above the torrid plains of the city.
Messrs. Desky and Pratt have had
blue prints prepared of the proposed
extension from their present term nus
on the summit of the Heights, and CAL
cuiate on building line which would
/ be from five to six miles in length.
This great length is made necessary by
I the number of curves necessary To
carry the line around Pauoa Valley,
and conforming to the natural conVolu-
tons of the ride and mount. The
length of the entire line, including the
present built road, which is now in
operation up Pacific Heights, would be
as follows: Pacific Heights line, q
miles; Tantalus and Sugar Loaf line.
5l4 miles, making total of az miles.
The round trip over the entire line
would therefore be in the neiGhborhood
of fifteen miles by the longest route
proposed for the Tantalus eXtansi IN, or
about 1872 miles by the shortest route.
Inc present terminus CT the Idtllc
Heights road is on the artiiic al table
land ON the summit. 1t is proposed to
continue the line from this point, car
rying ii around the head of Pauoa Val
ley, where there is an opportunity to
cross of 3h, 3 1-3 and 3la per cent
grade. The road starting from the ter
minus would follow along the Eva side
of Pauoa Valley, and by taking the 5 ~
per cent grade would cross at an ele-
va nf ~ nj
fiat. Crossing Pauoa fiat, the line
would go to the WaisSiiti side or Pauoa
Valley. or on the Eva side of Mount
Tantalus, skirting the hill at an ele-
walton of about l,600 feet, continue On
to the Waikiki side of the mountain
to point Waikiki of the Schmidt
place. or just back of Andrew Browns
property. Thence the line would be
carried down to Sugar Loaf, near the
residences Of Judge Fruar and S. Il.
Alexander, it being the intention to
make a loop around Sugar Loaf.
The second route would carry the
line from the terminus. at an elevation
of about 1,45O feet, although this would
increase the grade, and the line would
pass under the mountain just behind
the government road. The distance by
the first route is calculated to be about
six miles, and the second about a mile
or three-quarters of mile shorter.
The cost for building this Tantalus
and Sugar Loaf extension has been es-
timated at sS5, O00 which would give it
a full electric equipment of stations.
cars. lights. power, poles. standard
rails, and all the accessories of an up
to-date electric railway system.
On Saturday last during a session
of the trustees of the Bishop Estate
the question of the proposed cleo uric
railway extension was brought up, and
the board expressed itself in sympa thy
with the project. The estate owns
valuable land on Tantalus and al
| though no definite sanction was given,
yet 1t Is understood that the estate
will give the railway right Of way
through Its property and will aid 1t
otherwise.