The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-03-25
urm Saturday. danyl

property iu MuIklk HluuH TIE proposed
new routes for the Rapid Transit
tracks. the ruternur appointed come
mittse of ave citizens 10 ascertain upon
what terms strip Of land could be
obtained ON Waikik road mauka of the
present iramways tracks with author
lty 90 raise the money needed for pur-
chase and nllinE. the government guar
anteeing 20 present bill 90 the lcgis-
lsture TO reimburse them. This was
the result Of thorough discussion OF
the situation which began at l O'Clock
ami ended at $3.50 and every;hing points
to the support of the community In
favor OF the Rapid Transit extending
its tracks to and through Waikiki, and
at the earliest practicable date.
The motion to appoint n committee
was made by J. @. Rothwell, one of
the leading supporters of the PROPOSE
ton, and seconded by Representative
Dickey. and was passed by an almost
unanimous vote. The governor was
empowered to select the committee and
named the personnel as follows:
J. G. Rothwell, chairman; u. +. Dill
bingham, w. NJ. Giffard Fred Macfar-
lane and L. 5. Cunha, with James ii.
Boyd Superintendent of Public Works,
an ex-ofliclo member.
The conference was held in the old
throne room of the Capitol, and was
largely attended by residents and prop
erty owners of Waikiki. and business
men. while a number of citizens inter-
ested in the development of rapid tram
sit facilities In Honolulu were also pres
ent. A large map of the city was plac-
ed conspicuously, the tracks Of the
Rapid Transit Company being shown in
ut. 20
indicate the proposed routes to Wal
kiki.
The arguments pro and con regarding
the extension to Waikiki We're well pre-
scented, the only serious objection to
the Rapid Transit laying it's tracks on
Waikiki road being that the present
road is too narrow to permit of addi-
tional tracks as they would have to be
laid on the makai side of the present
uamways tracks, making it dangerous
10 drivers of carriages and spelling the
boulevard. All We're in favor of the
extension being made If the plan of
going through the McCully tract and
using the Kealia road route to Bishop
bridge was carried out But objections
We're made to the company making use
of the road in it's present narrow con-
dition. the argument being that there
would be no safety to women and chill
dren who drive upon 1t, and pleasure
driving would be at an end. The
Rapid Transit Company, on the other
hand. indicated it's entire Willingness
to construct its road through the Nc
Gully tract, but owing to the obstruc-
ton offered by Chinese leaseholder,
who was said to be holding out against
the company through the medium OF
m "a We which a l.
legged to be paying the costs of the in
junction suit brought by him, the plan
To so through the tract might be de-
layed for a year. The company desired
to make use of Waikiki road from King
street.
Another proposition was that Of con-
tnuing through the McCully tract in
case the Chinese obstructionst was
compelled to give the right of way,
turning thence into Waikiki road. thus
cutting out the right of way now pos
sessed by the company along Kealia
road. The company does not desire to
make use of Keala road If 1t can be
avoided, owing to the expense Of laying
5000 feet additional track there, the ex-
pense of operating another car for that
route and the loss of eight minutes
time on the round trip.
Inc argument narrowed uoNn u
that of getting a strip along the entire
mauka side of Waikiki road to Kapio-
lani Park. to be obtained through nego.
tiations with the owners, or by con
demnation proceedings, the money t.
be raised for the government by pub
lie spirited citizens. who in turn would
be reimbursed by the government
through the medium of the Legislature
Governor Dole opened the meeting b!
stating that the Rapid Transit haC
made a proposition to the government
to consent to their using certain road!
which are not in the franchise, between
King street and Waikiki. The fran
chise gave them Kealia road from Bish
ops bridge down to the Ala Moana
or beach road. He said the governmen
hoped the company would not use Ala
Moana but leave it untrammelled a.
a driving thOroughfare. He said TIL
company had endeavored to get thu
right of way through the swampy Nc
Gully tract above Waikiki road, carry
ing it through from Alexander street t.
King street and down McCully stree
to the Waikiki road, thence along Kea
liza road sto Bishops switch. The new
proposition was for the government t.
allow the company to go along waikiki
read direct instead of using keali'
road. The legislature had given
franchise for certain streets and tn
government was responsible for tn
protection of the rights of the publi
to see whether such a grant will preju
dice the public or be an advantage Il
X.
l.. A. Thurston, of the Rapid Transi
Company, said the franchise gave then
the right to use Ala Moana through
Kealia road up to Bishops switch, AM
So on. The government hoped to i'm
prove Ala Moana, and the next plal
taken up was to join for the present a
Alexander street terminus and go o.
down through an entirely new rout
which they had obtained from the ma
jority of property owners. They ha
rights granted to go through the Nc