The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-04-30

Dear Sir: desire again to call your
attention to House Bill 1908, for the
survey and estimate for the construc-
ton of Breakwater for protection OF
the Harbor at Hilo, Island of Hawaii,
and Territory of Hawaii.
The harbor at Hilo is practically an
open roadstead, with ample depth of
water for vessels of the largest draught,
but sadly in need of protection by a
i Breakwater from the ocean to Cocoa
nut Island.
Vessels lying in this harbor are liable
at any moment to be caught in north
east or northern tempest, in which case
they are compelled to cut loose and
get out to sea or be in great danger
of being thrown upon the reef, the har-
Dor being absolutely unprotected.
Owing to the heavy swelis over this
reef, It's practically impossible at all
times to land passengers, cargo or even
mail at wflaryes, and the same have to
be taken on shore in small boats at
tended with great difficulty and with
considerable damage TO cargo and
mails, by reason of small boats being
unable to live in the swells.
This measure is imperative and
should receive immediate attention.
The Island of Hawaii contains 4,015
square miles, and has population of
about 10000 The City of Hilo. the
only city of the island, has a popuia-
ton upwards OF 1000, and constantly
on the increase. It is the outlet and
shipping point for all sugar plantations.
stock ranches ard products of the is
land. 1t is the terminus of island rail-
way lines, and has steamer and sailing
vessel connection with Honolulu San
Francisco and New York. For four
years prior to December 18th, 1902, the
increase in tonnage over previous years
was 81, 529 tons. The tonnage of ves-
sells entering Hilo for the eleven months
of 1902 was 70,433 tons, being an increase
over the previous year OF 1876 tons.
The values of cargo carried from Hilo
for four months prior to December 18th,
1852, We're $4,000. 100. 73. divided as fol-
lows: Coffee, s27,402.30; hides and
skins, SIS, 269 general merchandise, s37,-
472.45i sugar. $4.21O.646.es.
During 1901, the Island of Hawaii ex-
ported 2,620,16s pounds of coffee. having
a value of $311,S9727. OF the sugar
produced by the whole Territory in
1902, namely, 355.611 tons, the Island of
Hawaii produced 1925 tons, shipped
from Hilo to San Francisco, New York,
etc In 1908, tie Island of Hawaii
produced and shipped 17o,665 tons OF
sugar of the 1891 tons produced in
the whole group of islands. The value
of cargoes shipped from the Island of
Hawaii for the four months prior to
December 18th, 1902 was $I20. 2.43. I
regret that I have no reports of ship
ping for tie past year. which would
show large increase on above figures
Shipping is constantly on the increase
a commercial center. Vessels are COM
PEELED to lay for days, sometimes al
most weeks. unable to land or take on
cargo by reason of the heavy swells,
and small boats taking mail to and
from the steamers very frequently are
overturned and capsized, mails going to
the bottom and either lost or brought
up by the divers.
The whole bay is open and northeast
winds blowing over this reef form such
a heavy swell that vessels are unable
to lie in the harbor and are compelled
TO go to sea.
desire to secure the appropriation
for this survey at this session. Con-
siderable testimony was taken before
the Hawaiian Commission investigat-
ing Island matters, touching the need
of this Breakwater at Hilo. and inn |
mediate legislation was recommended
by them.
Hilo in the near future will be a very
important shipping port for the reason
hat the distance from Frisco to ORR