The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-09-12
TO INVESTIGATE
WATER SUPPLY
CARTER RECEIVES A LONG LET
TER REGARDING THE PROPOS-
ED HYDRAULIC SURVEY,

Governor Carter has received a let
ter from F. H. Newell chief engineer |
of the Reclamation Service, L. S. A. |
on the subject of hydraulic survey of |
the Hawaiian Islands. Carter took |
the matter up some weeks ago and de-
cided to attempt to secure such sur |
vey. The reply from Newell is as fol- !
lows:
Washington, D, c., Aug. 2S 1906,
Hon. G. r. Garter, Governor Of Ha- |
wall Honolulu, Hawaii.
Dear Sir: Your letter of August !
to Mr.. Walcott has been referred to |
me. He is now in Utah but l will |
probably see him i'm Idaho i'm few |
days without waiting, however to |
discuss details with him, l will take |
the liberty of making some suggestions. |
The photographic Branch of the |
Geological Survey has been making |
measurements of surface streams and |
also Investigating the extent and |
character of underground waters i'm the !
United States. l have personally de- !
sired to extend the work to the Ha-
waiian Islands, and have taken the
liberty of publishing more or less
about the water resources of these is
lands whenever facts were available.
1 am impressed with the great oppor-
tunities for the development of power
and of irrigation and the necessity of
the government of the islands keeping
such control of the water resources as
will enable the largest possible develop
ment.
We have had 100000 a year to make
these Investigations. The last Con-
gress however, through desire to
economic, cut the appropriation to
$1500 900. 1t is hoped that the amount
will be restored to 100000, and
should be glad to see an authorization
permitting us to do work in the Ha-
waiian Islands. The present appropri-
alton is contained in the Act appropria-
ting for sundry civil expenses of the
government, under the head Of the
Geological Survey and is as follows!
For gaugng the streams and de-
termining the water supply of the
United States, and the investigation of
underground waters, including artesian
wells, and the preparation of reports
upon the best methods OF utilizing the
water resources, etc"
An amendment might be made by
inserting the words including the Ha-
waiian Islands" after the words,
Omitted States"
1t occurs to me as entirely proper
for you officially to urge the Secretary
of the Interior to recommend that this
q m n in uic1 no
made and to follow up this matter in
Congress. The regular course of pro-
cedure would be for the Secretary to
make recommendation and for your
Delegate and other citizens to urge
, Congress that the recommendation be
adopted.
Even with our diminished appropria-
ton l believe that some work could be
done in the islands, and if we sue
coed in getting a larger appropriation,
it would then be practicable to enter
Systematically upon the Investigations.
AS you are doubtless aware, there
has grown out of the investigations
of the Geological Survey the actual
construction of large works for re-
claiming arid land. Under the. terms
of the Reclamation Act of June II,
1902, the proceeds from the disposed
of public lands have been made into
a fund, to b. used in the building of
irrigation works 1t is estimated that
the proceeds for the period 19O1-S will
amount to over $4,000, 900, and plans
are being made for the expenditure of
this amount ALREADY we have planned
to irrigate i'm the near future about
$1,OO00O0 acres, of which 100000 acres
are now under ditch. Eight hundred
miles of canals and bitches have been
dug and 10000 feet of tunnel bored.
over 10000 labOrers are now at work.
1t seems to me that a similar act
might be passed devoting the proceeds
from the disposal of public lands in
the Hawaiian Islands to reclamation,
or join with the other States and Ter
ritOries of the Union in the general
scheme; that is to say, if the proceeds
from the sale of public lands in the
Hawaiian Islands were treated i'm the
same way as those from Arizona are
treated, you might obtain additional
benefits.
Enclosed is a copy of the Reclama-
ton Act AS far as l personally am
concerned l should be glad to see the
Reclamation Act extended to the
Hawaiian Islands and to incorporate
them into the general scheme. So IA
as 1 know this might be accomplished
with advantage to the country as a
whole. We could bring to the islands
the benefit of an experienced organlza-
ton apd the best engineering talent
available.
If you could be included under the
terms of the Reclamation Act this |
would make available at once ample !
funds for the investigation of your
water resources. The revenues might |
be considerably augmented, as in the |
case Of this country, by utilizing the |
water powers on the public lands and |
using the proceeds for the construc- !
tion of works; for example, in con-