The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-08-07
GREAT KAUAI ELECTRICAL PLANT.

In Wainihn Valley last saturday "a
industrial triumph was scored in the
interest Of the development Of the
sugar industry Of the Islands. In the
presence of representative men of the
Islands, men whose names and infn.
enee are prominent in one business or
another closely associated with the de
velopment of the sugar output, the re-
Gently completed plant was declared
formally opened.
Situated in the bottom of the Wal
nina gulch and not far from the
steamer landing the powerhouse is in
itself an example of the fight Of the
engineers against natural physical OBJ
staeles and difficulties. Within that
concrete structue has been installed
machinery of the latest design for gen
Grating electricity by water power, this
mountain ranges whose submits are
seldom seen through the swirling
masses of rain.filled clouds. The great
voltage of electricity so developed is
carried over mountain ranges and
gu}ehes across the island for thirty
five miles to pumping stations on the
McBryde estate and there is utilized to
force water from the lower levels to
higher ones for distribution upon the
thousands and thousands of acres Of
cane lands under cultivation.
The immediate results to the planta-
ton are already in marked contrast to
conditions in the period Immediately
before the introduction of the electri-
<cal current, for an additional million
of gallons of water per diem is pro-
cured by electrically pumps as
against the old-time steam.generated
pumps.
Within two weeks two new pumps
installed in n single station will supply
ten million gallons daily, and when all
plans are carried out, and all will be
within year, McBryde plantation will
have a visible supply of 100000
gallons of water daily, pumped and
lifted by electrically.driven pumps.
The steam pumps will be abolished,
and coal will no longer be used for
pumping water, and small fortune an.
aually will be saved to the company.
The saving in money even now by the
change from steam to electricity will
be in the neighborbood of $4,000 per
month. The entire electrical PROPOSE |
ton narrowed down to the finest point
simply means economy through the APP
plication of the principle of industrial
economies-in other words, getting the
greatest possible returns from the least
possible expenditure.
Ninety of Honolulu 3 business men
went to Kauai Friday evening on the
steamer Mauna Loa to witness the
opening ceremonies and the operation
of the power-plant, the first of the kind
to be installed in the Islands. They
returned to Honolulu yesterday i'm ,
pressed with the magnitude of the un-
dertaking and the probable results to
the plantation. The impression one
gains from personal tour of this vast |
estate is one Of pleasant anticipation
for successful future. In its pres
ent state it gives promise of future
greatness.
PHYSICAL kauai.
Kauai is the most northerly island
and the oldest of the Hawaiian group.
II well deserves the epithet of Garden
Isle, for its seashores, valleys, gulches,
plateaus, ridges and ranges teen with
the greenest of verdure. Viewed from
the deck of steamer the slopes of the
appear so corrugated as to
suggest that a huge claw scratched
them in the beginning from summit to
.ainous formation the peak of Waia- ,
eale majestieally rears its summit 5000 ,
'eet above sea.level through a cloud ,
ialo. From summit to sea rich, red
oil bespeaks the fertility of the whole
sland and it is little wonder that the
ugar planters have widened their
cope of operations to extend the /
boundaries of their green fields. More I
'asily practicable now with the in. {
tallation of the Wainiha power plant. I
Many rivers course down through pie {
uresque valleys to the sea, feeding not I
'nly the taro and rice fields of natives {
md aliens, but the sugar estates as G
yell. The rivers of Hanalei, Wailua, |
Vaimea, Lumahae and Hanapepe are
he largest. The island is about % i
niles long and has an area of about r
90 square miles. Beautiful bays in i
emit the coast and many of these are I
he available anchorages for steam and (
ailing vessels, all landings being made h
n small boats. h
WAINIHA VALLEY.
On the northernmost portion of
Kauai is the bay of Hanelei, one of u
he most beautiful on the island, and v
lnaa hu ie tho autlat 90 tha Wa;n,ko u