The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-06-15

for water are Nuliili, Halawa, Kohala,
Union Mill Co, and Hawis and besides
these there are about 5000 acres of
White estate lands, good for cane and
now made available by the fact that
water can be put upon them.
Speaking of the plantations and
their contracts to buy water, it is a re-
markable fact that only the manage
ment of Hawi had any faith that the
ditch would be ready to supply water
upon the agreed date, June l, and Hawi
had only little faith. So only Hawi had
built any reservoirs and bitches, and
only Hawi can take part of the water
contracted for. The other plantations
are hurrying in hot haste with their
ditch and reservoir building-and IN
the meantime are paying the Kohala
Ditch Company for water they cannot
take. In the meantime, Engineer
o Shaughnessy knew his job, and fin
ished the ditch on time. The water was
first turned into 1t on June lst. To-
days opening was formality.
The ditch beginning in kohala
mountains at on elevation of 1880 feet,
runs in a general northerly course, fall
ing to $50 feet in 81 miles. When 1t is
completed it will cost. approximately,
100000. 1t is lined on the sides with
either cement or stone for the entire
distance. Where cement is used, the
concrete is 6 inches thick. Where the
facing is of stone, native stone re-
sembling trap rock is used, this split
into blocks Sx14x17 inches. This stone
splits very easily, the Jap laborers
making the blocks from the rough
stone for FIVE cents block.
The ditch, in the open, is eight feet
wide on the bottom, eleven feet wide at
the top, and approximately feet deep.
Where it pierces the hills in the tun'
|nels, it is 61a feet in width at the
bottom, widening to feet at a height
. - u,
two feet, making the extreme height of
the tunnels feet. At intervals along
the tunnels, side tunnels run to the sur
| face. these having been used to dump
the material taken out. The tunnels,
mostly through porous rock, are lined
also with concrete.
Il The work of construction has con
tinued for several years, but it is done
now-and well done. The ditch, indeed
, is the biggest thing in Kohala. 1t vii
double the yield of the cane lands
!, under it, and bring into cultivation al
/ most twice the acreage that is nov
4 available. 1t has great weirs at shor
e intervals, with time clocks, for measur
n ing the water taken out, and f"3m thes
o weirs the plantations can take tn
Il water wherever they will upon tn
d lands lower down. Every plantation
o the district is now engaged in the cor
e structon of systems of fumes an
l. bitches and reservoirs to use and say
the water.
I'll The ditch itself will hereafter b
J. under the management of Superinten'
>: ent +. w. p. Bluett, who very court'
e. ously today illustrated the working
Ie the weir system in tending the wat'
ID down upon Hawi, the only plantatio
,e ready to receive it, at the lower end ,
id the ditch.
rs After the opening ceremonies tn
re morning, a luau was served at the ~
hala Club. and dance and receptiC
ie were given there this evening.
I'd The same company that built the *
ie hala ditch is engaged in the constru
to tion of system of bitches designed
I'd carry the waters of Waipio stream al
I'd | its tributaries down to the lands
- Hamakua. There will be two ditch
he in the Hamakua system, the upper o.
in % miles long to cost 100000; and
ld lower one, 81 miles long, to cost $50
he 90. These bitches will make availat
k n great region not now properly su
al piled with water, and increase We
!" largely the yield of the land now
ne sugar cane. 1t will be a long tin
-st however, before these bitches are co
les pleted, although work upon them is
,rs ing steadily forward.
at Work is likewise progressing stead
ey upon that part of the Kohala ditch
ect yet completed, although it is 81
down there that Engineer o O'Shau
en-, messy is not coming back. He has
of complete plans-and his work is
ons good hands.
the A peculiar incident of the constr
md tion of the Kohala Ditch has been
Of amount of sickness among the Jap
the ese tunnel-builders, Powder c
ore sumption" they call it, and it is
and to he caused by the fumes released
had burning nitro-glycerine. Its sympt'