The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-12-05
READY To
co AHEAD
War Departmental
Begin Its
Work.

Within two weeks time the United
States expects TO have chosen site
in Honolulu wherein will be located one
~ the largest and most complete mill
tary posts In the country. Authorize
ton was received by United States At
torney Breckous IN yesterdays mail to
act In conjunction with Major Edgar
Davis, head OF the military forces OF
Hawaii, and Captain G.. Mex. 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 Dla-
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 Breckons is
under instructions to secure the desired
tract amicably II possible, but IL a fair
value Is not placed upon the site so
chosen, then to proceed to condemn the
tract. II 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.
II legal action Is necessary there will
probably be 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 s2,0OO0OO
for the building Of coast fortihcations in
the general military bill, which contains
also a provision that 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
&
ters,-two million dollars: Provided
/ that the Secretary Of War is authorized
to acquire leases in such lands I'm Ha-
wall as have been set aside for purposes
OF military post"
The military authorities are anxious
that an amicable settlement of the
leases desired may be reached at once
as the appropriation viii be available
only to June goth, 1903, unless Congress
acts In the meantime. The most de-
sirabe offer taking into consideration
the needs of the War Department viii
be accepted, subject of course to ap'
proval by the Secretary OF War. II
case no agreement IL reached con
! States court Will be necessary, as was
the case in the Pearl Harbor matter.
II there IL no delay in the acquisition
Of the site the first of the year viii
probably see the commencement o.
work upon a military post In Honolulu
Any part of the 100000 appropriated
by Congress may be used for this pur.
i pose within the discretion OF the Sec
rotary of War. but It IL said that It /,
the intention Of the War Department t.
! make the military post here one OF tn,
| finest in the United States. Besides
! the Improvement OF the land which viii
probably be begun almost immediate
ly the establishment Of "A military pos
here, will mean the construction OF bar.
racks, fOrtihcation, water works, hospl
tai buildings, stables, etc. Upon the
completion OF the work "A large force OF