The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-02-23
LAND VALUES
NEAR PEARL
HARbOR
lMnil sreeiaI 10 the AdvertIser.l }

"For construction of seacoast batter
les in the Hawaiian and Philippine
Islands. 100000. -
In addition TO this the bill carries an
appropriation for sites for Notifications,
of which Honolulu S proportion will be
about $l50,000. 1t also carries an ap-
propriation for armament. of which
Honolulu s proportion should be approx
imately $4,000. Accordingly the total
Hawaiian appropriation on the fortif
cations bill is about 100000 as re-
ported to the House.
That is all there is in the bill about
it. although the heading reads: "For-
tifications in insular possessions 1t
is TO be expected that the bill will pass
the House. but what notifications will
be made in the Senate can not now be
told The inference is that the bill, as
IL now stands contains 100000 for con
struction of seacoast batteries in the
Hawaiian Islands, because the views of
the minority of the appropriations com
mittee, signed by Representatives
Brundige of Arkansas and John A. Sui
livan of Massachusetts, starts off as
follows:
"We realize that this bill, in the
main, is conservative and economical,
and materially reduces the appropria
tions of the past year, but we can not
agree with the committee in making
the appropriation Of 100000 for the
purpose Of fortifying the Philippine and
Hawaiian Islands, for the reason that
of this sum it is contemplated that
$400, 900 is to be used in the construc-
tion of Notifications in the Philippine
Islands, the two points mentioned be-
ing Manila and Subig Bay.
fight on the item is likely on the
floor Of the House and not unlikely
some one will be found also to make a
fight in the Senate on the item. As
things look now, however, the fight will
be directed against the part of the ap-
preparation, which is for Manila, rather
than for the part intended for Hawaii.
THE DELEGATE EXPLAINS.
When the subcommittee, Representa-
tive Walter !. Smith of Iowa, was pre-.
pairing the bill extended hearings were
given and there was considerable testi-
mony by Gen. Mckenzie, Chief of En-
gineers, and Maj. +. V. Abbott on the
necessity for appropriations for Pearl
Harbor and Honolulu. Later Delegate
Kalanianaole and Mr.. George b. Nc
Clellan appeared before the sub-com-
mittee to explain about the reports that
the price of land in Hawaii was exorbi-
tant.
Delegate Kalanianaole, in appearing
before the subcommittee, made the fol-
lowing statement: "Gentlemen of the
Committee shall not undertake to
argue to you the strategic Importance
Il. IL. H.. xnl
need of Notifications there. All the
military and naval authorities of the u.
s., for more than quarter of CEN
tury have urged the Importance to the
United States of this strategic point.
''For more than fifty years England,
France and japan all sought some
ground on which they could obtain the
sovereignty of the Hawaiian Islands
because of it's military and naval i'm
p0rtance.
"If these facts do not convince your
committee of the importance of fortify-
ing this key to the Pacific, then no ar
guments of mine would in any way in
huence you to that end.
at is important to our people in Ha-
waii that these Notifications should be
constructed, for in case of war, a single
armored cruiser of the enemy could
take possession of Honolulu, cut the
cable, and fully isolate US from the out
side world.
But do not at all expect that you
will provide any fortifications In Ha-
wall for the particular benefit of the
people living there. l recognize that
your attention will be taken solely on
the ground that our national interests.
and that the benefits and projections
TO he people of Hawaii is only Incl
dental TO the main purpose.
''The President and Secretary Taft
are so much impressed with the i'm
portance OF proceeding at once with
fortiHcation work at Hawaii that the
President has made a special recon-
mendation to that effect in his mes
sage. / wish to take this occasion to
correct some misstatements that were
made on the floor last year in regard
10 exorbitant prices asked for lands
required for fortification sites in Ha-
wall.
IAN land in the vicinity of Homo
lulu Is high priced because OF two
facts: First. that the area OF good
beach property and residence grounds
supplied with water IL absolutely nm
tied; second, that the agricultural lane
always commands high price because
it is very productive and also because
there is only a limited amount avail
able for rice and sugar cultivation
The facts are that In many cases tn,
owners OF land do not wish TO dis
pose OF II at all, desiring TO hold thii
land because forming the best meani
of income and investment,
LAND MOST VALUABLE.
'"rhis was clearly proven when tn
Federal government sought 20 Obtain
a site for a future naval station a
Pearl iarbor IN that case each OF th
owners bordering on Pearl Harbo
sought TO have the government locat
On land other than their own The
nid not wish 90 dispose of their LAM
al all for his purpose. And IL is IN
unanimous opinion of the business me
Ia Honolulu familiar with Hand value
there that " the land condemned f.
a naval station sile had been put u
az auction ID would have brought hor