The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-05-20
(Mail Special to the Advertiser.)

(Mail Special to the Advertiser)
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 7.-Tht
Engineers of the War Department are
already looking into the question OF Sc
curing sites for Notifications on the Ha-
waiian islands as provided in the forti-
fcations law, passed recently by Con-
gress and providing an appropriation OF
100000. Thus far the work is only
preliminary and no definite steps are
yet expected for a month or more. The
matter has been referred to 1t. Col. Will
liam II. Heuer, who is stationed at
San Francisco but who is familiar with
the availability of sites for fortifcations
in the territory. His recommendations
will be awaited by the Engineer officers
here. 1t is thought not improbable that
Col. Heuer may pass the matter on to
Lieut.. John K. Slattery, now stationed
in Honolulu, that the latter may ascer-
tain some details about the situation.
When the papers have come back to
Washington the engineer officers here
expect then to be in possession of in
formation that will enable them to take
some action.
Some people here think that the War
Department may, ask the opinion of
Capt George Mex. Williamson in an
informal way about certain questions in
volved. He is regarded as an expert
on some of the matters involved and is
also very familiar with the value of land
in the territories.
1t is recognized at the War Depart
ment that the purchase of land in the
islands is difficult, because OF the high
prices at which all land is held. A vet
eran engineer officer, who has been to
Hawaii, said here. today that the pre-
vailing opinion on the mainland is
that land in Hawaii is cheap, while
the fact is it is sold by the square
! inch. What the proposed sites for for
tifcations are the War Department will
not say The subject has been carefully
considered but the plans are kept under
double lock and key and will not be
divulged
An example of how costly land is in
Hawaii is given by an army officer who
visited the islands not many months
ago "We had inspected the govern
ment tract, known as the grassy plain"
said he, 'and comprising about 10000
acres. 1t has been leased by the gov
ernment for a long term, the annual
rental being $500 year. Some of the
tract is excellent land, admirably adapt
ed for grazing; part of it is also hilly
and not fit for anything. The lease in
which Mr.. Dillingham;, very estimable
man, is interested, has twelve years yet
to rum As officers representing the
government we sought to ascertain the
price at which the remainder OF this
lease would be sold. They replied to
us that the price would be $I64ooo. OF
course we were in no position to drive
bargain, for the government does not
authorize its officers to do that. Had we
been | suppose much smaller price
than that would have been accepted by
the owners of the lease"
There was small appropriation by
the Congress which just adjourned for
Notifications in the insular possessions,
but it is not expected that any of this
will be applied to Hawaii. One reason
is that it will all be needed for other
islands and another is that the sites for
Notifications have not yet been purchased
in Hawaii
The report which board of army
officers made last Autumn, after visit
TO Hawaii, on sites for army posts, is
still with the general staff 1t has not
been made public and has not even been
seen by the officers who made it, since
they attached their signatures to it,
As was stated several weeks ago Con-
gress refused to appropriate any money
ior buying sites for a military post near
Honolulu An estimate OF $4,000 for
securing site on the land above referred
10 was submitted by the Quartermaster
Generals office Lieut. Col George
Ruhlen, OF the Qauermasler's Depart
mcul appeared before the subcommittee
oi lhc House Appropriations committee
and dlm,fel some testimony on the
WbielL which has been made nuhlie
sIurg Compress Adjourned
NbW Representative hl'Iel ~ Alass5
WtWh.r ui lht subcommittee, afked
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