The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-06-11
THE MERCHANTS
AND THE SITE

Acting Governor Atkinson received
cablegram yesterday from Governor
Carter asking for certain Information
In regard to the Irwin lot. The cable
gram was at some length.
Aside from this the developments IN
the Federal building site question yes
terday centered In the meeting OF the
Merchants Association held at ii
o'clock in the morning and In the cables
gram read at that meeting. These
cablegrams were two in number. The
first was from Delegate Kalanianaole
to Secretary OF the Treasury cortelyou
and the second was In effect a reply to
1t though also reply to the cabegram
of the Henry Waterhouse Trust Com
pany withdrawing the Mahuka site. 1t
was signed by First Assistant Secre-
tary OF the Treasury winthrop. These
cables were as follows:
June 6, 1907.
"Cortelyou. Washington, d. c.
withdrawal Waterhouse proposal
for Federal building site inequitably
forced by Acting Governor. Mahuka
site still available and strongly sup
ported by local sentiment. Strongly
advise delay in acquiescence in with
drawal until mail arrives.
"KALANIANAOLE.
Delegate"
The reply which came in the form
of cable to the Waterhouse Trust
Company follows:
"Will cable our decision on receipt
OF your written statement.
WINTHROP"
This cablegram from Winthrop had
brought the matter to standstill un-
til the letter of the Henry Waterhouse
Trust Company formally Withdrawing
the Mahuka site and giving the reasons
therefor reach Washington.
President George w. Smith presided
at the meeting of the association. r.
w. Shingle of the Waterhouse Trust
Company gave an account of the efforts
that he had made to comply with all
the conditions imposed on the Mahuka
site. The Federal government had
only required that Bishop street be
opened from King to Merchant. Gov
ernor Carter, however, had insisted
that Bishop street should be opened
through to the waterfront, and as he
had it in his power to delay the
acceptance of Bishop street a require
ment of the Federal government, and
had control of the governmental ma
chinery necessary, he could enforce
these conditions. Shingle had therefore
gone ahead seeking to comply with
them. The Governor had refused to
accept a petition to condemn the prop
erty for the street and this had block
ed the way. However, negotiations had
been carried through to practical sue
cess when the time limit was called
on him. Shingle declined to say wheth-
er the Union Feed Company would
have granted a right of way through
it's property, but it is generally under
stood that it would.
President Smith said the association
had no strings on it and was not COM
mitted to any particular persons or
interests. The Mahuka site, in his view
was still available. In addition there
was the Bishop site and he believed
one or two others in the central part
of town.
The almost unanimous view was ex-
pressed that either the Mahuka site or
the Bishop site should be chosen be-
cause they are central and accessible.
Robert Cation thought too much stress
ity. He favored the Irwin lot or a
site in accordance with the Robinson
report because of their fitness from an
aesthetic standpoint.
John Emmeluth, E. A. McInerny and
w. w. Harris thought the Governor
ought to be severely criticized for in
terfering in the matter as he had.
General ]. H. Soper, spoke in favor of
an expression from the association in
favor of central location. Others took
a similar view and it was voted that
that view be expressed to the Secre-
tary of the Treasury both by letter and
cable.
The following cable was sent by
President Smith:
"Cortelyou, Washington: Merchants
Association Honolulu endorse Tay-
lor's recommendation Federal building
site. SMITH, President"
-~$-s-