The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-12-09
MANY SITES
ARE PROPOSED
MUCH DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
AS TO WHERE FEDERAL BUILD
.INGS SHOULD BE PLACED.

At the citizens meeting to consider
federal buildings held in the hall OF the
House of Representative yesterday at
ternoon, following the opening address,
es of William H. Eustis, f. NJ. Hatch
took the floor.
He thought the present site of the post
Office enlarged a suitable one for
that building, and the Capitol grounds
would be the ideal site for the courts.
The custom house he thought well
placed at present. Three buildings
would be he thought necessary.
z w. 0. Smith said that he endorsed
Mr.. Hatch remarks. The present site
of the post office was owned by the
government with some more adjoining
land not at present used by the postal
authorities.
Mr.. Eustis asked if the site of the
Customs House would be desirable Tor
a joint building. Mr.. Smith thought
not as the federal courts should be
near the Territorial courts in his opin-
ion.
j. G. Spencer stated that there would
soon be in the market a piece of land
Immediately behind the post Office.
The business men, he thought would
prefer the courts down town, although
the lawyers might prefer them nearer
their present site.
w. X. Castle seconded Mr.. Hatch. A
big building on the post Office site
would crowd the locality and not full
fiji any object of beautfying the city
! from an architectural standpoint. Land
could be obtained close to the Capitol
for the Federal building, setting aside
the Customs, which was, he thought,
well located here. A federal building
should not, he thought, be set down in
crowded part of the city. He hope
that Mr.. Eustis could do something
concerning the ill-lighted conditions of
the rocky shores of Hawaii.
Mr. Eustis stated that in Minneapolis
/ there was some discussion as to the To-
cality of the postoffice. Some thought
that it would make surriunding prop
erty more valuable, but modern deliV-
cry systems sent people very rarely to
the post office nowadays.
/ c. NJ. Cooke agreed with the Custom
! House remaining where it now is.
The post office site was, he thought
crowded, the streets were narrow ard
noise too great for courts. He believed
Alakea would soon exceed Fort street
as far as business went. The base of the
city was trending in a new direction
A locality on the corner of Merchant
King and Richards streets would he
and others with whom he had consult
ed thought be the ideal position for a
joint federal building. Recoinage was
wanted by the bankers.
w. w. Hall conceded entirely with
Mr.. Cookies remarks, putting the pos
office, court rooms and federal offices
on Union Square, where the building
would be ornamental and central The
Custom House should remain where il
ed badly at several points.
Governor Dole stated that this Ter.
ritory alone was furnishing it's owl
lighthouse system which was made.
quate.
Many more came in during the meet
ing until the hall was well filled. L. A
Thurston made a suggestiin as to the
building sites. The site of UnioI
Square was, he thought, the site for the
future. The present site of the
post office and Honolulu Hale was
only S7Xl56 feet and belonged to the
Territorial government not the federal
If the Territorial government would be
willing to sell that site and with the
proceeds buy the other, a presentation
of the site would surely help an appro-
priation for the building. The Cover
nor had the sole right of making such
| a presentation. Governor Dole explain
ed that the President also had the
right to take the land from the Terri
torial and give it to the Federal gov
eminent.
w. o. Smith suggested the property
opposite the front of the Young build
ing might be excellent site.
Acting on the Governors suggestion
Il C. NJ. Cooke made motions that the
Customs House site be retained and the
federal building placed on Union
Square. Judge Hartwell thought a vote
might be premature right now. More
thought should be taken. He suggest
ed the appointment of committee to
ventilate the matters further. He had
however no objections to the present
site of the Customs House, being per-
manently located as at present. That
motion was then carried unanimously.
c. NJ. Cooke in placing the second
motion as to a federal building thought
that much thought had been given the
matter already. Mr.. Schaefer thought
! the post office should be kept separate
and kept as at present
Mr.. Waterhouse advocated separate
building for the post office and the
federal building.
w. o. Smith moved an amendment
that a committee of five should be APP
pointed to report to Mr.. Gustis on his
return to Honolulu ten days hence.
George Carter seconded the motion.
| What vas wan.edwas building-tha
was essential, so was agreement, and
the mInoritV should give In TO the ma