The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-12-09
TO- DEEPEN
THE AARBOR
Honolulu Should Get In
to Regular Appro-
priation Bill.

The published fact that the Presi-
dent has recommended an approprin-
ton for dredging Honolulu harbor to
depth of "a feet, on the suggestion
in Governor Carriers report, has led to
some discussion as to whether the Gov
ernor and the Chamber of Commerce
are not at cross purposes in n most i'm
portant matter, and a committee from
the commercial body has calisd upon
the Governor for discussion OF the
question.
Now, as a matter of fact, there is no
conflict whatever. A survey of the
harbor has been made by the Commits
sloner of Public Works. showing what
the Territory has don9 In the line OF
harbor improvement, and what it Is
deemed imperatively necessary shall be
done by the Government at once, and
at what cost, II Honolulu is to keep itE
place in tho commerce of the Pacific.
The Territory has already spent more
than a quarter of a million of dollars
in dredging the harbor, to say nothing
of the amount spent and to be expend-
ed in building the slips. All that was
asked by the Governor was that Con-
gress appropriate s25S,0OO at once to
dredge the harbor to uniform depth
of "a feet. In order that the big ships
| that now make Honolulu a port of call
and the bigger ships of the future
might come into the harbor and right
up to the wharves at all times. This
is necessary now.
The recommendation that this be done
went forward from the Governors Of
| flee several months ago and the Inn
portance OF the matter was appreciated
by President Roosevelt who included
the Governors recommendation in his
message. as has already been stated.
This is for the work that is needed
Immediately. Also II is wise move
from the standpoint of material advan-
tage, to get Congress into the habit of
including the Improvement of the har-
bors of island ports In the Rivers and
| Harbors Bill at the earliest moment
practicable. II the recommendation of
the Governor had been delayed until
| the opening of the SHsion of Congress
| there would certainly have been no Cp-
preparation for the dredging of Honolu-
| lu harbor included In the bill this term
For 1t is a matter requiring time to get
any appropriation through Congress.
To get into one of the regular appro-
| priation bills requires even more time
| than to pass a special measure, pro-
viding that special bill can be- passed
at all. But when the claim of any
port to harbor improvement is once
made manifest then the regular COM
mittee takes up the claim of that port
thereafter always as a routine matter
A port must got into line, however.
| first.
| There is no disposition anywhere to
block the plan of the local merchants
| to get an appropriation for n prelmi-
nary survey for a general plan of har-
Dor Improvement and to prepare prof.
ect for the general betterment of the
port facilities In time for the Increased
commercl all believe will follow the
construction of the Panama canal ana
the closer relation of the commerce OF
the Pacific with the worlds trade. IL
will b., admitted that the port is too
small, that the big steamers have diff
Guilty in turning around once they are
inside, and that 1t would be better II
the harbor We're even twice as wide as
1t Is now. But all that is matter for
! the future.
| The immediate need is for deeper
water all over the harbor, and the
Holloway survey shows that general
! depth of "a feet can be secured IL Con-
gress will spend as much money as
the Territory has already expended lin
dredging. And that is as far as the
Governor went and as far as the Presi-
dent has followed him in his recon-
mendation. There has been and can
be no conflict All the interests here
ana working for the development OF
the commercial importance of the port