The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-27
1T. COM. POND
IS AT WORK


likely to be built. The natural sites in
dicated in my report, previously refer
red TO, will permit of the construction
of dry docks in pairs, and with one
pumping plant between them, the cost
! of maintenance for two docks would
| be but slightly greater than for one.
With these dry docks there should be
erected shops equipped with all the
necessary tools for ordinary repairs to
huIls. machinery and. boilers, ordnance
and other equipment.
These shops should be fully equip
ped for all classes of lighter work.
ped foundries and machine shops in
Honolulu, one Of which, the Honolulu
Iron Works. called into being, or, rath-
er. built up from a smaller establish
nent, because of the marvellous de-
velopment of the machinery and pump
ing plants of the large sugar planta-
tions, is capable of undertaking any
work likely to be furnished by the
Naval Service.
Honolulu, it should be remembered,
is only fifteen minutes by rail from the
Pearl Harbor Station, the Government
owning about a mile of the road-bed
and equipment by virtue of the COM
promise effected with the Oahu Rail-
way and Land Co. during the con-
demnation proceedings.
1.-THE Government should not, how
ever, be dependent, either in peace or
war. upon private monopoly, and, for
that reason alone, if for none other,
should have it's own plant.
There should also be erected suitable
store-hQuses for such supplies as it is
deemed essential that such station
should always have on hand, having
in mind its isolated position and i'm
mense strategic Importance as a mid |
Pacific Station.
There should certainly be erected on |
Kuahua Island suitable magazines we'll |
stored with all kinds of ammunition. |
This is a point of first Importance and |
should receive early attention. With |
these magazines should go houses for /
gunners and watchmen.
THE water system should be de- |
either by artesian wells on the |
station or by acquiring such rights on
adjacent lands. There is no question
about the quantity of artesian water
that can be obtained on the station and
there is little doubt that water of suit
able quality can be obtained either on
Kuahua Island or on Ford's Island and
piped across, even if it can not be OBJ
tanned on the main land. This artesian
water flows to a height of about TWEEN
-y-five feet above the sea.
"a coaling station to hold at least
fifty thousand tons should be establish
I'd, well equipped with modern appli-
ances for the rapid handling of coal.
rifle ranges should be laid out and
quits, etc, erected. This should be one
If the features of the station. Ranges
IAN be easily laid out up to the full
ength of one thousand yards, fulfilling
Ill the requirements laid down in the
Firing Regulations. and there are few
places under the control of tnssf Navy
Department where better facilities exist
or the establishment of such an i'm
'ortant feature of naval work. Pearl |
1arbor could well be made the rendez-
'ous for vessels of the Pacific fleet for
mall-arm target practice.
''Wharves should be constructed.
foorings should be placed. A railroad
ystem should be installed connecting
With the main line of the Oahu Rail-
7ay. Officers quarters should be built. G
roads and streets should be laid out.
"Al the above work should be plan {
ed Immediately and undertaken and
ushed to completion upon the settle
lent of the pending suit and as rapidly | Y
$ appropriations can be obtained
herefor."
1 hope and expect to live to see the | r
ay when Pearl Harbor will be one of
he half-dozen first-class naval stations /
the United States, the others being \
ew York, Norfolk, San Francisco Bay,
uget Sound and Subig Bay. a
am, sir, very respectfully,
CHAS. F. POND,
Lieutenant Commander, Z. S. Navy.
Papers containing the Pearl Harbor