The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-05-24
MILLION DOLLAR HAMAKUA
DITCH WILL Be BUILT
Three Plantations Will Use Thirty Million Gallons
Of Water...Mr. Pollitz or the Sugar Stu
alton and War on the Trust.

Negotiations have been practically
completed for the construction of a
million dollar ditch by the Kohala
Ditch Co. to supply water to three Ha-
makua Observation-Disclosures Honol<an
and Paauhau. The final papers await
the completion of negotiations by the
Paauhau Plantation Co. which must
first secure extension of leases or pur-
chase certain lands to be watered from
the ditch. Edward Pollitz who is mere
in the interest of the company hopes
to close the deal in time TO return TO
nesday morning.
Mr.. Pollitz has been in the islands
for nearly n month as the representa-
tive of San Francisco stockholders i'm
q number of plantations and has COM
pleted his work with the exception of
the extension of the Paauhau leases.
He is much pleased with the sugar
situation in the islands and ventures
the prediction that the l90ij crop of
sugar will be marketed at four cents.
He is also much Interested in the re-
port of the combination of sugar agen-
cies to get relief from the oppression /
of the sugar trust, and predicts n
bright future for the islands. While |
here Mr.. POLITE discussed with Man |
ager II. p. Baldwin of the Hawaiian !
Commercial Co. the necessity of en-
larging the mill of that plantation in |
order to take care of the big crop eX-
pected next year.
ENLARGING MILL.
What brought me to Honolulu was
the wish to discuss certain matters with
the president of the Hawaiian Com
mercial Co.. Mr.. Baldwin, which we
could do better in that way than
through correspondence" said Mr.. Pol
litz who is director of the company.
The enlargement of the mill has been
under discussion, as this will be neces-
sary in a short time, probably n year,
when we expect a much larger output
Of sugar. Several minor matters, such
as grinding contracts were also dis
posed of.
THE HAMAKUA DITCH.
'The second matter which called me
to Honolulu was the building of the
1amakua ditch, a proposition having
Jeell llldue 10 tllt pldllldllbllS III lldl
district to furnish them with guam
,ity of water sufficient to insure a much
arger output and also to guarantee the
estates against dry seasons. The di-
'ectors of the different plantations
agreed to enter upon contract but
found that it was impossible for the
Paauhau plantation, of which | am n
director, to join in with the other plan
.ations at present in executing n con-
ract for water to be taken from the
Iamakua Ditch Co. The obstacle in
he way was the necessity of making
contract with the ditch company eX-
ending beyond the life of certain
eases of land upon which the planta-
ion had cane. The negotiations for the
extension of these leases or the pur-
hase of the land are now in progress
md l hope to have the matter settled
70 that / can leave in the Alameda
Wednesday. 1t would of course be
Useless to contract for water to be used
N some other persons land.
OF IMMENSE BENEFIT
'In this case as well as that of the
Hawaiian Commercial my brother di-
ectors thought best to deputize one
f their number to bring the matter
o a close, rather than carry on endless
correspondence. The carrying out of
he program agreed upon would be Of
immense benefit to the district on the
sland of Hawaii as 1t would insure a
arger output of sugar and would also
ring in a million dollars in money in
he building of the ditch. Kukaiau,
and Paauhau are the three {
lantations interested, the interests be-
ng somewhat identical with those of ]
he Hamakua Ditch Co. The intention
; to use about thirty million gallons {
water daily, provided of course that s
he leases which now form the only |
bstacle, can be extended. The Hama I
ua ditch will be constructed prior to
he Kohala Ditch, the two projects be {
lg under one company, the water be- s
lg brought from the Kohala Mountains {
D the Hamakua side of the island. /