The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-03-12
ROWLAND AND HIS
CHIEF TESTIFY IN
NUUANU DAM CASE

CnHfnDtT ldtt nlknt uuflHk lho HrootVs
OF the Joint committee investigating
the Nuuanu dam. and each chair held
an Interested visitor. The old ques-
lions were asked and practically the
same answers received.
ROWLAND TESTIFIES.
J. II. Rowland was the star witness
sworn.
Have been Assistant Superintendent
of Public Works since February, 1905
Was chief engineer OF the dam and
had full supervision subject to the APP
prevail OF the Superintendent OF Public
Works. The system of the department
compels me to supervise the work.
Where / deem 1t necessary, refer to
Mr.. Holloway. My first conversation
with my superior regarding the dam
was In the fall of the year 1905,
think. 1t was two months before Mr..
Walker began on the survey. The sur
vey was made at the request of Mr..
Holloway. The notes OF that survey
are in my office. Subsequent to that
survey the plans and Iecifications
were drawn by Mr.. Walker, he having
been employed for the purpose by Mr..
Holloway.
STANDS BY WALh Elk.
He was employed on ny recon-
mendation that he was the best engi-
neer available in the islands. He made
use of all the data in the Office, but the
present site is a different location from
any suggested previously. The plans
and specifications were carefully gone
over by Mr.. Holloway and myself be-
fore advertising for bids. There were
three received. When thf plans were
finally submitted he had no suggestion
to make. Tenders were called for
some time after the plans were re-
ceived; you have copies among the pa
pers. Think the advertisements were
placed in the newspapers before July
/, 1905. Possibly ten days after the
plans were received they were accept
ed. They came in piecemeal and
where corrections were needed, Mr..
Walker was notified. Visits were made
to the site by Mr.. Walker and my
self singly and together.
SPECIFICATIONS GOOD.
when they were received and SO think
now. Have heard all the testimony
at this hearing, including Patterson's.
Would state in regard to his testimony
that the specifications were drawn &C
cording to the best methods in use In
the United States. There is a differ
ence between the East and West In
construction. In the latter section
more rock filled dams are built. In
the East the dirt fills predominant.
KELLOGG'S CHANGES.
This was changed from dirt to rock
at the suggestion of Mr.. Kellogg.
Could get no opinion from him as to
work; he refused to discuss it with
me. He gave 1t as his opinion that
the specifications were not specific
enough; that in the pipe redwood
should have been used. Do not re-
member of any other particular.
asked him why he considered the
change by inserting the toe and he
gave me his reasons. stated to him
that this toe was only four feet In
width and that the area covered by the
core wall was 300 feet above covered
with earth and I could not see how
that toe would keep the water from
seeping through. Do not believe the
toe strengthened the work. Prior to
report made by Kellogg I did not ap-
prove of the contractors method. In
starting work of that character 1t Is
usual to begin in the middle of the
stream. In the vitals, rather than the
extreme ends and bringing them
together.
ADVISING WHITEHOUSE.
Before any work was done I sug-
gested that he concentrate his efforts
in the center and to getting a combina-
practicable to state in the specifica-
tons how the work should begin, the
bid would no doubt be increased under
such conditions. The failure of the
contractor to begin in the middle of
the stream has been a hinderance to
the work on the dam. We took 1t for
granted that the contractor would
have started in the middle of the
stream and had not this investigation
been started the contractor would have
sustained great losses through the
freshets this winter.
DON'T LIKE PATTERSON.
There would have been trouble any
how with Mr.. Patterson as inspector
on the work. do not consider he has
any license to pass an opinion on work
of that magnitude. / realized that
when he commenced to write articles
for the Advertiser. Prior to that his
work as inspector was satisfactory
He never complained to me relative to
the way in which the work was be-
ing done. He was approximately COR
| rect in his evidence as to the dimen-
sions he gave relative to the armor
ARMoR WAS IMPROVED.
1t was safer to increase the armor
on the pipe. An engineer of Mr.. WAL
ker's ability could make the specifica-
lions for the dam in six months. He
returned in September and submitted
the plans about the first of June. (By
Holloway: THE advertisements were
inserted in Mayo
To Representative Hughes: The first
estimate was $4,000. CAS- a matter of
| fact It was $72,0OO). The lowest price
| bid was 100000. The estimate was in
creased to $4,000 owing to difference
in prices here over those figured b.
Walker.
By Hughes: The dam has cost $685.
900 and the people want to know what
1t is going to cost, for 1t is between
the people and everyone connected
with the dam.
Howland: l presume 1t will cost
$4,000 to complete and l believe It
would be safe. When completed 1t will
| hold $50 600, 900 gallons. The present