The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-04-03
No Pearl 1arbor
Estimates Yet
Complete.
DEPARTMENT WILL
AWAIT SETTLEMENT
Admiral Merry Is Almost Ready
With His Plans But Is
Not Rushing.

) All talk about how much money is to
be spent in the development of the
plans of the United States Government
for the improvement of Pearl Harbor
station. is merest guess work. for none
of the estimates made by Admiral Mer-
ry. upon orders from his superiors.
have gone forward, nor viii they be
sent to Washington for some time. ae-
cording TO the present outlook The
| latest information from the Navy De-
partment is that neither the Secretary
nor any heads of department will take
UP the matter of Pearl Harbor until the
United States Government has secured
clear title to the lands.
| Owing to the fact that the Bishop
| Estate has now perfected an appeal to
! the Circuit Court of Appeals for the
Ninth Circuit, the force upon the prep
aration of plans for the various build
ings is not being overworked. The
profile and contour maps are not yet
completed and will not be for some
time, while the various designs for the
buildings. the shops. the residences and
the roads and tracks, are being kept
back. as there is no reason for their
being rushed. when there is no chance
for their consideration at Washington.
The delays in the courts may even yet
block the work, so that 1T will be past
the time for the drafting of the naval
appropriation bill, which in turn wall
mean that any development Of the. prof.
ect would be held back until another
another long session, which Will con-
vene December I'd, 1903.
The plans for the two drydocks, the
machine and foundry shops. the mills
and the residences are ready for sub
mission. There has been added to these
plan for coaling plant which, it is
believed, will be the very best OF its
kind in the establishment of the Navy.
This will be due to the time put upon
il by Admiral Merry. and the many ad-
vantages which have been at his dis
posal in the consideration of the sub
ject. In the designing of the new works
for Guam, Admiral Merry has had to
meet the question of a suitable coaling
plant. There he decided that it would
be wise only to construct 10000 ton
plant, and here by the addition of an
other system OF bunkers the capacity
of the plant will be 10000 tons.
In the report Of Admiral Merry it was
stated that this plant which he has de-
c:ded upon. comprised a system of
hoists and towers, which will permit
the handling of a large cargo In record
time There is embraced in it a rail-
way. with cars moved by an endless
rope. which is operated by the same
machinery which moves the elevators,
whereby the coal, once taken into the
elevated bunkers, may be let out from
chutes with valves, right into the cars,
which in turn may be delivered at the
port of the ship to be coaled. Owing to
the fact that there is not a ship which
Gould be coaled direct from the chutes,
his plan is used.
But all these methods for the hand
ing OF supplies. and the buildings
which may be used for the purpose OF
o the fact that none OF them will pass
he recommended stage until every
lain against the property which 1t is
proposed shall be included in the reser-
alton has been settled, and the title
o the land is in the Government.