The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-03-02
GOVERNOR 5
MESSAGE:
His Story of Nuuanu
Dam Transmitted to
the Legislature.


The estimated cost of this projec
was $1S0,000, the time required TO
its completion thirteen months.
There may possibly be oppoEtunit
for honest differences of opinion a
to the better water service, that pump
ed from deep wells, or rzountaln waite
by gravity. The cost of the former /
a constant drain ON the taxpayer, Will
the gravity system, once installed, /
bound to be more satisfactory. In thu
latter case It will not only furnish
power for lignting purposes, but ais
for running the sewer pumps. Thus the
wisdom of conserving large water sup
ply at high altitude will not finally
be questioned.
The method to be used in the con
struction of the Nuuanu dam present
ed indeed problem. How it has beer
met and handled is matter purely
administrative, yet no honest oficia
can object to Legislative investigation
impartially conducted, showing neither
fear nor favor, dealing with facts
searching for the truth and pointing
out the best future course.
After the project had met the ap.
prevail of a previous Legislature and
the first appropriation was passed.
those responsible discussed the problem,
and finally concluded to let modified
contract.
In constructing work of this nature,
1t is impossible to be certain of condi-
tions that exist under the surface. 1t
is not like building a structure above
ground, where risks are well defined.
Unforeseen contingencies may arise,
necessitating change of details. Esti-
mates may prove incorrect. If con-
tractor is to bid total amount to
complete within specified time, work
of such a character, he must neces-
sarily figure with wide margin of
profit He must protect himself against
all possible unknown circumstances. 1t
is not a question of ordinary profits,
with simply the risks of weather and
markets. In the case in point, If con-
ditions are not disappointing, the cost
is excessive, while if the unexpected
is encountered, the contractor can usual
ly sustain claim for extra work at
a profit on which there is no competi-
tive bid. Such contracts are thus often
built by day labor, under competent
supervision. This gives method suffi-
GENTLY elastic to meet all contingencies,
and is usually followed by individuals
or corporations.
Public opinion does not, as rule,
approve of such course for public
work. There is fear of political favorit-
ism, extravaganza or graft. It is be-
tween these two extremes that modern
practice in public works meets on a
plan by which the contractor is re-
lieved from the unknown risks in that
he does not bid lump sum. The
different kinds of work are classified,
and he bids on unit for each class,
wherever there is possibility of I'M
certainty The contract called for a
lump sum only where there was no un-
usual risk
L. NJ. Whitehouse was the lowest bid
der, and the contract was signed by
him on june %, 1865. BY the terms
of this instrument, the contractor was
to furnish the tools, material and la
Dor, doing the work as directed, and
was to complete the structure by Octo-
Der /, 1906. Work not mentioned was
to be done at a reasonable cost, with
Is per cent. added.
The contractor began his operations
on July 90, 1905.
The records of the engineers office
show the manner in which the work
progressed; the attitude of the con-
tractor and his compliance with in
structions.
During June, 1906, sensational state
ments in regard to the dam were start
ed in the press. The engineer was
charged with accepting defective work
and conclusions were reached by many
without knowledge of the situation
The whole structure as planned was
condemned as unsafe. When explana-
tions were made, lack of confidence
was expressed; when defense was of
fered, Interior motives were intimated.
Leading men and the press insisted
that, irrespective of cost, the COM
munity was entitled to the best and
safest structure possible. Human lives
and property were supposed to be in
danger. The taxpayer would not toler-
ate economy in so grave a matter.
Resistance to public opinion on such
occasions is useless. The administra-
ton offered in vain to submit the whole
matter to any expert which the press
or public bodies would name. confident
that the final result would prove a
great public benefit Certain that
without public confidence or support
the plan would have to be abandoned,
the administration sent for that expert
available who, it believed, would com
mand the greatest public confidence.
Meanwhile, the contractor claimed
that blame for defective work was due
to the officials in charge Those in
charge asserted that for months it had
been evident that the contractor would
not do the work as instructed. Not
only was there defective work, but
unnecessary delay had occurred at that
season when it should have been rush
ed, in order to avoid winter rains.
The officials claimed to have ex-
hausted every remedy except that of
eaneeiling the contract. Resort NO
such a course meant lawsuits and the
lapse of the appropriation held out
June 30. 1905, to meet this particular
contract and which could not be an
piled to this work in any other man
ner than through this contract
Public interest was aroused. and fail
ure to stop the work called forth ac-
susations of desire to cover un and
Reeal the supposed defects. There