The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-08-27

There is no produce raised on this
part of the island but it all comes
from the general section of which
Pearl Harbor is the center and must
travel ten or fifteen miles further to
reach this city for shipment. This
year there was in the neighborhood of
10000 tons of freight sent to and from
Wahiawa and this will be doubled next
year and probably doubled again the
year after. The saving in freight, If
this could be sent by Pearl Harbor.
would be very great. I expect to see
all the land between Pearl Harbor and
Waialua used within the next genera
ton. either by small producers or pos
sibly by corporations, which will mean
an enormous amount more of freight.
If the proposed improvements are
made at Pearl Harbor and it Is opened
for commerce it will make my pine
apple ranch at Wahiawa worth from
ten to fifteen per cent. more than it
Is at present"
]. M. Dowsett stated that there
would be from 5000 to 5000 tons Of
freight from the Waianae plantation
available for Pearl Harbor shipping.
He asked Admiral Very If it was not
possible that the navy would rather
keep the channel tortuous in order
that the vessels of the enemy might
not get in easily.
In reply to this Admiral Very said:
STRAIGHT CHANNEL WANTED.
81 have never heard Of this theory
till about an hour ago, when 1t was
spoken of by a gentleman in somewhat
similar terms to those used by MI.
Dowsett. The facts of the matter are
as follows: In case one of our ships
is disabled in a fight at sea, we will
wish to get her inside the harbor to
the hospital, that is the dry docks, as
quickly as possible. OF course we
could, with tugs and with cables to
points on shore, with backing and
hauling, take her through a crooked
channel,-but that is not what we want.
While this was being done, the ship
might sink and blockade the entire
channel.
I'VE want channel through which
we can take a disabled ship with the
greatest speed possible and place her
| in a dock for repairs. In this connec-
| ton I want to speak of the rumors
which we have had here that the feet
from the Atlantic and Asiatic squad
rons was coming here for maneuvers.
This was to a certain degree a natural
! supposition on account of the fact that
this port is half way between the Pa
cific Coast and the Orient.
"AS A MATTER OF FACT Nc
PRUDENT COMMANDER-I N-CHIEF
WOULD HOLD MANEUvERS HERE
WHERE THERE IS NO DRY DOCK
In maneuvers, where so many ships
are concerned there is always likely
to be an accident. Suppose one of oul
large vessels should be disabled of
this harbor, what could be done
There is no dock here. She might SIM
before she could be taken halfway
across the Pacific"
B. F. Dillingham;, the next called on
said:
81 have looked forward for lont
time to the opening of Pearl Harbor
believe that it would be great NOV
in the interests of Oahu and of thu
entire Territory. If opened for nava
purposes it would be a great thint
for the country, but if also opened TO
commerce it would mean that Their,
would be a saving on each ton o
freight from that section.
IF the improvements planned shoult
be carried out it would mean that |
would bring large population to tina
section which would be worth far NOR
! to the railroad than the loss which
would suffer from the reductions il
, freight. l believe that the increase fl
population is the very best thing which
, can happen for this Territory. No
taking the small stand of needing
freight for the railroad, but the broade
! one of general good for the island.
am strongly in favor of the improve
ments and of the bringing in, through
this means, the many new settlers VIII
would be sure to come. 1t would prov
of such vast benefit as to be almos
beyond belief"
!, Loud applause followed Dillingham;
! speech and then Judge II. E. Coope
was called on by Chairman Carter. H
said in part:
THE great advantage which will b
found in Pearl Harbor for the ship
ping interests is in the fact that Their
, are twelve miles of deep water clos
to shore. In this city the expense o
building long wharves In order to ge
to deep water has been excessive bu
! in Pearl Harbor deep water, from thir
/ ty-fve to sixty feet. may be found a
e almost any point close to the shore
D Ten years or even eight years ag
r there was quite a strong sentiment !
this city against the opening of Peal
4 Harbor but this has changed and
t do not believe that any Of the soil
q business men of the city are agains
t it at present"
] Judge Hartwell made short speecl
telling of the treaty made in Grant
administration which was really col