The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-10-28
RESERVOIR
IN LAVA BED
The Plans Made for
Hi!O Water
Works.

system of the Rainy City have been
completed and bids will be asked for
Immediately from contractors both here
and in Hilo. The Appropriation made
by the Legislature for the purpose was
$4,000 and the plans prepared by the
Department of Public Works were made
out. with that estimate in view.
No pumping apparatus or machinery
Of any kind is required in the system
planned for Hilo. A simple reservoir
at sufficient altitude to give the desired
pressure is all that is needed. but the
system is still somewhat elaborate,
though not complicated.
The reservoir is to be built upon the
Pahoehoe lava. field above Hilo. 1t will
be of sufficient size to hold zoo, 900 gall |
Ions OF water which is ample for the |
supply of the city, both for domestic
and fire uses. The reservoir is to be |
excavated from the lava at Pahoehoe.
The plans call for basin fourteen feet |
in depth and with the bottom dimen-
sions sixty by eighty feet. The sides
will slope so that the upper surface
of the basin will be eighty by one hun
bred feet across.
Concrete walls are to be built to en-
close the pit. The lava will probably
have to be blasted out, and there is
considerable speculation as to the for
nation of the flow at this point. There
may be simply a thin surface covering,
which, when taken out, will leave an
excavation larger than that required
for the reservoir. In this event filling
Will be required. on the other hand
no air bubble may have formed at the
time of the lava flow. and the contrac-
tor must then blast out the solid stone.
As will be seen the contract will be
one furnishing considerable latitude for
the bidders, as well as speculation as
to the amount of labor required.
The reservoir is to be entirely en-
closed by a wooden fence and over 1t
IS to be constructed a roof of corrugat-
| ed iron which will keep the water free
| from dirt, and shut out the hot suns
rays. There is also to be frame work
of wire netting, and the shed will be
substantially built.
| The reservoir is to be fed from cold
mountain springs through an eight inch
pipe. The outflow pipe is ten inches in
diameter, which Is ample for the sup
! ply of the city. Bids are to be asked
Immediately and work will probably be
| commenced within a month.
+++*<+<<<<<<<<<<++<<<<<<<<
l American duty on this product, there is
still hope for greater reward in store
for the Hawaiian grower. Investiga-
tons as to cultivation and the most eff
i iiCient use of water would well repay.
In this connection and as an aid to the
future development of this island group
a comprehensive soil survey of all the
agricultural lands would save to the
men who are to develop the resources
Of the land millions of dollars. Much
| experimental work has been done in
trying to grow this or that crop. a soil
map of the islands would, in case some
one crop were found which grows bet
ter here than anywhere else, indicate
exactly in what other regions this crop
would be most likely to succeed. There
IS hardly a crop cultivated in all the
| subtropical regions of the globe but
which has been grown here at some per-
iod during the past eighty years. Fruits,
| nuts. dyes, tannins, precious woods,
| spices, vegetables, drugs, fibers, and
forage plants have been grown in end
less variety. The castor-oil bean Is
grown in Kona and finds ready sale at
$50 per ton. Tea is almost a weed in
Olaa and Hamakua. Vanilla thrives in
kau, and the cocoanut in Puma. There
are large trees of cacao, the source OF
chocolate, in the city Of Hilo, and the
African oil palm lines the streets OF
Honolulu. Tobacco of excellent quality
has been grown on all the islands. The
opportunities for work in lines where
practical agricultural benefit will re-
suit are so many that it is difficult 10
choose what first to undertake.
Investigations in forestry are much
to be desired but these can not be
undertaken by the station without con-
siderable increase in it's resources; and
in any case, whatever Investigations
the station might undertake in this di-
rection should be done in cooperation
with the Bureau of Forestry.
Many of the native woods of this
group are extremely valuable from a
commercial standpoint, and a consider
able trade in these woods, notably koa
and sandal, at one time fiourished. II
would be we'll if the entire backbone OF
: each main mountain chain OF each OF
the islands be set apart in forest re-
serves under the Federal Government
= in order that the native forests may be
. protected and preserved and that a
modern and legal system of forest con
servation may be carried out. The
sugar plantations all depend directly OF
: indirectly on the wooded mountain
slopes for their water supply, and II IL
5 due to their owners that something BE-
5 done to check the further destruction
; of the native forests, and also TO re
e plant large areas with trees (native and
I foreign) which shall in the future be
I come commercially valuable,
The station has already attained 4
: sure footing in Hawaii. Many inquiries
in regard to local problems In agricul
$ ture have been received and answered
!. and the interest in the station is con
5 stantly growing. II sufficient none,
e can be appropriated TO provide a suit
!, able permanent equipment, results will
r the sooner be obtained,
: -
n The Supreme Court rendered deei
e sion Saturday sustaining Judge LITTLE
% n