The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-08-24

The meeting of the business men OF
She city called by Admiral Very to
take up the Pearl Harbor improve
ments was largely attended and re-
suited in the accompanying resolutions
which were passed by rising vote of
those present.
Those present at the meeting were
unanimous in the idea that the Pearl
Harbor improvements would be not
only a great benefit in the matter of
military and naval sctrategy but also
from commercial standpoint. There
was no. an adverse expression of opin-
ION during the session, which lasted
for two hours and a half.
One of the most interesting state
ments made during the meeting was
that of Admiral Very, who, in speaking
of the coming of the fleet to this city,
stated that there was no chance that
msneuvers would take place here as
there were no drydocks, and, in case
an accident should occur, there would
be no way in which vessel might be
repaired here
The meeting was opened by Admiral
Very, who read letter which reached
him about two weeks ago from Cap
4ain William J. Barnett, a member of
the General Naval Board, I'm which it
was stated that it seemed almost i'm
possible to make the needed improve
ments at Pearl Harbor for naval use
alone and that if the business bodies
of the Territory should show that there
was a commercial use for the harbOr
1T would assist greatly in helping ap-
prOpriations for the harbOr through
Congress. He also stated that he un-
derstood from Captain Niblaek that
there was a great deal of sugar which
could be shipped from Pearl Harbor
and that a line OF steamers was willing
TO gun its vessels there as soon as it
was possible.
''This fact comes to me as delight
full surprise - said Admiral Very.
have had diseouraging replies from
both official and unofficial letters
which I have written to Washington
since l have been here for the last
thirteen months. / have been in favor
of the improvement of Pearl Harbor
eyer since my first visit here. 1t was
first brought up by Admiral Wilkes, on
his visit to these islands 81 years ago.
From that time the only thing that
. anti fVr1eF r
a little hole in the reef and the buying
OF a little land by the Government.
1.-The difficulty at present comes IN
taking a large ship through the long
toEtuous channel which we have at
pEsent. All ships require a radius IN
Which to turn and the amount of dis
rance which it takes a ship to turn
IN shows her turning qualities. A
large vessel, such as battleshlp, could
hardly make the entrance to Pearl
Harbor at present, no matter how deep
the channel, with the sharp turns
which are now IN the channel.
There are a number of curves IN
wbich the distance is from 500 to 100
feetf l have recommended that the
curve radius be 2000 feet and believe
that ii is none too much. In fact 5000
feet would be better. In order to cut
off these curves an examination of the
bottom must be made first, to ascertain
whether it is hard or soft coral or
sand. The army engineers cannot take
the initiative. They must wait till
Congress tells them TO go ahead. Ev-
erv Congressman with whom l have
talked in the last few months has been
in favor Of giving US an approprla-
fion with which TO start the work. L
believe that about S15, 200 will be need
ei for the preliminary survey and IN
order TO remove the curves a rough /
estimate places the amount of material
10 be moved at 100000 cubic yards
1t costs about twenty-five cents per
yard for moving the soft coral, so 1t
would cost. II only this material IS
found. about S450.0O0 to complete this
work. If hard coral is encountered 1t |
would mean that the expenditure would
be greater.
''The channel must be deepened to /
50 or SO feet and must be made at 1
least double its present width, so that |
tTo vessels may pass each other. Now, !!
gentlemen, it is a hopeless case for the
Navy TO attempt to have these I'M
provements made from the standpoint