The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-08-20
A PAPER ON OUR STREETS AND OUR UTILITIES
Misconceptions Regarding StreetsSurrender OF Space
5 Under SidewaIkUtilities Are Wrongly Placed
Practical Suggestions by Mr.. Pinkham

The following paper on 'street Con-
struction, Utilization, Preservation and
the Installation of Public Utilities, y
was presented before the Hawaiian En-
cheering Association by L. Z. Pink
ham, at its meeting last Thursday even
ing. 1t is on a subject of very great
interest. 1t is given here in full:
This paper viii be made as concise
and direct as possible under the head
ings noted.
THE PURPOSE OF A STREET.
Streets are supposed to afford public
means of general communication to
every possessor of an independently
owned and operated vehicle, whether
the motive power be that of animals
or more modern means of propulsion,
Sxhich vehicle, from its character, IS
Independent OF any fixed way or track.
Street railways in cities and towns
have largely appropriated the streets
by means of franchises granted under
the proper plea of public convenience,
but usually with the effect of tremen-
dous explorations for the benefit OF
private fortunes rather than giving the
public the maximum service at decreas-
ing charges.
SUPPOSED PHYSICAL CHARACTER
OF STREETS.
Streets are supposed to be built to
secure the least grades practicable,
drainage, cleanliness and a surface re-
curing the least possible traction and
an undisturbed, even surface and per-
manency due to the highest quality on
construction the municipalities or gov
ernmental divisions can devise and at
ford
MISCONCEPTIONS AS TO STREETS.
The landscape idea as to the laying
out of streets is a prevalent one and
to it is due very great percentage
eff iIl-planned, RECONSTRUCTED, il-kept
Il streets, generally in condition IN
Cheating all the stages from premature
deterioration to that of absolute danger
The conventional landscape street build
er, or designer, desires TO secure width
and a general appearance OF breadth
and generous proportions, SO plans the
width of the street irrespective OF
the amount and character of the traffic
it must bear; and, also, irrespective
of the ability of the community tC
construct ana maintain street greater
than traffic demands.
The landscape idea is correct an'
should be insisted upon in its appro
pirate variations, but the street proper
sbould be only the width traffic re
uires and such as can be most thor
ougblv built, constantly maintained an'
kept in frst-class condition, and the re
mainder eff the broad highway SHOULD
be divided on either side into suitable
sidewalks and strips of land.
striking local example Of thu
character of misconception IS IN IN
extension of School street. Appearance
demanded a wide street, hence, 1t wa
laid out sixty feet wide, OF whlel
fortv-fve feet constituted the stree
and seven and one-half feet on elthe
side the sidewalks. There is no proba
bilitv that over twenty-elght feet'
as much can ever be utilized for tram
rurnoses. hence. twenty-eight-too
street for use with six5een-toot com
Bination lawn and sidewalk strips o
either side would have made an idea
combination of utility and landscape
School street Is now incomplete an
unfinished. vet enough material ma
been used to have finished d stree
such as the traffic may require.
School street, west of Asylum roa'
is overgrown with vegetation glue d
paroba and other bushes growing !
and through the macadam, which nee'
n he neglected but few years nor
TO become forested.
The Public Works Department Is n'
to be criticized, for they simply ca
risd out the conventional idea, whle
in all probability, unreheeting publ
opinion would not have allowed the
to vary from.
IRRATIONAL LOCATION OF PUl
Lie UTILITIES.
If up to date, any American ell
or town government has devised
rational and economic system OF
stallation of public utilities, opera'
bv municipalities or corporations the
methods are not generally known
Invariably, under the public stree
in all sorts of juxtaPositlons, are i,
such public utilities as water MAJ
and pipes. sewers and connections 9
Jmains AMI connections, steam MAJ