The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-10-09
HONOLULU DRY DOCK.

Editor Advertiser: I have been an
interested reader of the different ideas
advanced by some of our public spir-
| tied citizens in the discussion over the
Fishmarket site.
/ In my opinion the Ffshmarket block
and the block mauka extending from
/ Queen street to the dock is the ideal
site for an up-to-date dry dock, big
enough to take the largest war vessel
afioat-about 500 feet required for that
purpose-our Territory giving the land
and the United States government
building the dry dock. A mutual bene-
fit, but with our interests in the dry
dock fully understood and protected
Some years ago in our anxiety TO
save the United States market for our
sugar interests, we gave up our Gus
tom receipts, which We're ours for the
asking, and have been kicking our
selves ever since. 1 hope we can do
better next time.
A dry dock would be valuable asset
to our city, and right in line with the
city ownership of wharf and dock
works near this location, which would
quickly replace a broken plate or re-
pair the ship if necessary, giving en-
ployment to hundreds of high price,
skilled citizens. The American-Hawai-
ian Steamship Co. would probably
build machine shops at this end, and
do their repairing here while loading
and discharging. cargo.
Taii will fhoi x.Iy
done at either end of their run for
the reason that they are in port and
remain longer than they do in Homo
lulu. A ship in contact for a few hoursYt
with coral reef or an uncharted rock |
in the Pacific, Ocean usually wants a |
dry dock and wants it badly. Prices |
cut no figure. The time a ship occu-
pies the dock is indefinite, and in the |
case of a war vessel we may have an |
addition of 1000 persons to our popuia-
ton for months. Had there been a /
dry dock of this size in Honolulu when
the Mongolia, Manchuria and Sheridan |
accidents occurred, it would have been
a half million to million dollars for
and I believe the work could /
be done as cheap here as in San Fran
cisco.
Should the United States government
agree to help US build dry dock on
the Fishmarket site all property would Il
jump so to 100 per cent. in that neigh !!
borhood
/ might state that the United States
naval station and docks are Waikiki H
Of the Ffshmarket site.
I am aware that a strong effort is
aow being made at Washington with
a view OF building a dry dock at Pearl
City.
Have our business men given this a
thought? Have they considered the II
menace to the business interests of Ko-
nolulu? A dry dock located in Pearl
City with all the requisites such as
machine shops, blacksmith shops, etc.,
would quickly grow to large dimen-
5ions and in a short time we would
nave an Oriental city as a competitor.
carrying all lines of goods and perhaps
selling cheaper than we can.
This city can easily take care of all
he business 1t would be ruinous to
divide 1t and create competition.
Now is a most favorable time in view
If the many warships coming here, and
through our Delegate bring this mat
er to the attention of the Congression-
Il party, who SO recently paid Hawaii
/ visit.
I feel If our request for a dry dock
S properly handled from this end, vel
Will have little difficulty in gettingi
What we ask from Congress in Deem
Der. This dry dock will take some
ears to build, but if the business men .
AXE an interest and help it along, it 4
night be completed in two years.
J. OSWALD LUTTED.
Honolulu, Oct. s, 1907.
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