The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-06-10

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large hres, practically all of the run
ming expense in connection with these
plants could be saved. AS is shown
from the ngures covering the expense
incurred during the past L. months,
this would amount to fully $4,000 each
year. With these pumping plants kept
in good repair as an auxiliary supply
to that OF the gravity system, we would
have an ideal water supply both for
domestic use and fire protection.
The Government is at the present
time. running $50 arc lights, but is un-
able with the present power plant in
Nuuanu Valley to furnish sufficient
current for the remaining 20 arc lights,
which together with the above, light
the streets of Honolulu. Our inability
to run these 30 arc lights costs the
Territory $4,000 per year. With the
completion of the new electric power
station. this annual expense would be
saved, inasmuch as with an assumed
minimum draft of 100000 gallons per
"A hours. we will be able to furnish an
average of 700 actual horse powers.
distributed over Il period of hours,
which amount is ample for the present
demands with a considerable margin of
growth BY putting in another cleo
tricaI unit. in addition to the one al
ready provided for in this new station,
the Government would be able to run
400 lights if necessary, besides having
ample power to run an electric engine
at the sewerage pumping station,
which would result in a further saw
ing of not less than $3.50 per month or
$4,000 annually With the Nuuanu
a supply sufficient to develop this
power, but with the additional sources
made available to help out on the daily
consumption. we would seldom feel re-
stricted in the use of the necessary
quantity of water desired.
After making a careful canvass in
the upper portions of these valleys, it
is estimated that an additional revenue
might be received from those at present
not supplied with Government water,
on account of their being located at too
high an elevation, a sum of not less
than $1,000 per annum.
1t is evident from the above that,
with the achievement of an adequate
gravity supply, a very material in
crease in the net revenue would be
realized, and that with an expenditure
of some $500, 900 We would make an an
nual saving of over s54 600, or an IS
per cent. investment. Is it not a good
business proposition for the Govern
ment to entertain? Would a private
company take it up?
With the installation of this gravity
system of water supply, the cost of
maintenance would be reduced to a
minimum and would certainly tend to
decrease the burden on those paying
water rates.
That the direct advantages would
outweigh the disadvantages with the
perfection of such, a system is un-
questioned. The only disadvantages
that would be experienced would be at
times of exceptional drouth when the
valley waters might become more or
less turbid and carry in suspension
particles of fresh water algae, which
grows much more readily in shallow
apd necessarily warmer water. Trou
BILE from either of these sources. how
ever, would be very infrequent as the
reservoirs would seldom be drawn down
low enough to affect the quality of the
water. There has been in the past a
disposition to question the advisability
of having to depend solely on valley
waters for domestic use, and an idea
that the pump or artesian water was
much the more preferable. At the re-
quest of Mr.. Walker, chemical eXamin-
ations We're made indicating that the
water at the valley sources is very
satisfactory in quality, and unques-
tionably will provide safe and suit
able source of supply for the city use.
These analyses indicate that the or
ganic matter increases as the course
of the water is followed from the vari-
Gus sources al the head of the Nuu-
anu Valley down to the No 1 reservoir
which is to be expected when the sur
rounding facts are taken into consider
alton, and the appearance of the wa
ter is not improved by it's flowing
mile or more in a shallow open channel.
1t is certainly a subject for congratu-
lauon that, in this case, the possibility
of animal poIlution-by far the most
dangerous element affecting a water
supply-is. by the location of the wa
ter sheds and proposed, reservoirs
practically eliminated. The quality of
the water stored in reservoirs, such as
it is proposed to construct near the
sources. would unquestionably be far
superior to that in the present reser-
voirs located farther down the Nuuanu
Valley. which are of inferior design
and construction.
Altogether the adjustment of the ex-
listing. defective system by proposed
improvements along the lines suggest
ed, and which would eventually result
in the achievement of an adequate.
suitable and economical gravity supply
for Honolulu, is one of the most i'm
portant problems in the way of public
improvements. that has thus far been
brought up. 1t is to be hoped that this
work already started and undertaken
may receive no check. and that it NAV
be perfected within a reasonably short
time. Should we not make what may
seem, at the present time, extraor-
binary expenditures for these perma-
nent improvements. which will be of
material benefit to those living in Ho-