The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-04-25
The Governor States His Objections
and the House Postpones Con
sideration of Them.
Full Text of Message Which Gives Unanswer-
able Reasons Against Acquiring the Kaai-
kahi and Kahuawai Springs on the
Booth Property.

probable future occupation of the slopes
above the upper springs by residences.
Mr.. Shorey's report recognizes the ne
cessity of proper protection" of these
springs from contamination. Mr.. Keen
disposes of the question of contamina-
ton by the remark, 'I found that this
water has it's source in number of
springs far up the valley. above all pos
sibility of pollution
AS matter of fact the lower springs
are surrounded by dwellings, some Of
them close above them with adjacent
cesspools and stables. Under these cir
cumstances, it is evident that the water
from these lower springs is likely to
be polluted at any time and therefore
cannot be considered as source of a
drinking water supply.
AS to the upper springs, the slopes
above them are most inviting for sites
of residences. and are likely to be so
occupied at any time unless they should
be segregated by the Government. AS
a part of these slopes are owned BY
private parties the cost Of buying out
such private interests, necessary pre-
liminary measure to the use of the wa
ter of such springs for drinking pur-
poses. might and probably would
amount to large sum. At present the
amount of such cost is an absolutely
quantity.
Mr.. Brown says that In his estima-
ton it will take $250,OOO to develop the
springs, build reservoirs and furnish
pipe. Add to this the cost of acquiring
the land necessary to be segregated for
the protection of the upper springs and
We have a total outlay in prospect that
IS appalling. in view of the small
amount of water delivered by the upper
springs in the middle of the rainy sea-
son, i. e. s59.s20 gallons in twenty-four
hours.
But this is not all; the bill SO far
Is it can be understood, provides
'nly for the purchase of the in
erests of the owners Of the water in |
question by the outlay of s15O.OO0 leav-
ng the Government to extinguish the |
interests of lessees as best it may
mother unknown quantity, which may, |
10 far as the Legislature is informed, |
equire another large sum. or under the |
provisions o. the bill. require the Gov
rnment to furnish the lessees the wa
er to which they are entitled until |
heir leases expire, which would, for |
While at least. leave no water for the |
Government when it is most needed
hat is, in the summer months.
No appropriation is made by the /
pill for acquiring such lessee water
lights by buying them out, and no pro-
-ision for the expense of ascertaining
Who are the real owners in distinc-
ion from the lessees, of the water
lights in question. To reach safe con-
lusions in this matter would require,
rst, an investigation into the titles of
he lands having water rights and
whether or not such lands are sub
ect to mortgage, and whether or not
I
rietors; Second, investigation of the
ctual water rights belonging to such
lnds respectively,-no easy matter, as
!. appears by one of the exhibits be-
ore the Legislature, that the water
lterests of Pauoa uka upper Pauoa)
rere adjusted by a representative of
he Interior Department twenty-five t
ears ago. Does upper Pauoa cover
Il the water rights in question? How
lany of the owners of water rights in
,7s. have sold them or have lost them
Y non-user, or through adverse use {
y others? Who are the heirs or de-
isees of such owners in 1873 who have $
nee died? /
1t viii be seen from these sugges- l
ons. that the matter of acquiring the s
ater in question would probably be a 7
lost complicated and expensive one,
lat might well require an authorized ]
and a considerable appro {
ration to assure its satisfactory ac-
1mplishment.
The scheme impresses me as meas I
re vigorously pressed by private par
es for their own interests, upon '
hich the Legislature has acted with
ut sufficient information to enable it
} protect the public interests. with s
ne result that private interests have {
cen advanced at the expense of public. Il
1T is a bill under one construction Id
roviding for the purchase of water '
-ithout requiring the grantors to de- f