The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-04-24

/ w nave therefore prepared al
submit herewith 10 your honorabl
body, an act entitled An act to prC
vide for the reclamation Of ianas b
! special assessments against the land
to be reclaimed and other lands 10 b
/ benefited by such reclamation, and ar
propriating the proceeds for such pun
pose, giving the necessary powers Z
| the Boards Of Supervisors for the recIa
nation Of districts which may be de
clared or are menace TO the healtl
Of the community.
Reclamation District.
'fThe reclamation district should no
alone comprise what is known as tn
Waikiki district. but should include al
Of that area bounded by Kapiolan
Park. South street, King street ant
the sea This district is several thou
sand acres in extent and would be to-
large to bring within one reclamat ior
district. and we suggest that il b.
divided into several districts.
.'Before any reclamation work ear
be undertaken, however, a complete
system of roads must be laid out, which
should take into consideration the prob
lens of proper drainage. The mair
drainage streams flowing from the high
er lands should be taken through proper
conduits or channels direct TO the sea
This would include all streams from the
Manoa valley to the Ward avenue
street drainage system already con
strueted Therefore. these lands which
this reclamation viii prevent from be
ing overlooked. as in the past. should
z IL : L.
ton.
Gone of the causes of the insanitary
conditions of the lands in the low lying
district described is due to the fact
that all of the drainage from the high
err levels of the city is discharged upon
these fats. and the streams meandering
hither and thither leave, after freshets
have passed. pools which soon become
stagnant and offensive, and hot beds
for mosquito propagation.
GAS the population on the higher
levels of the city increases. the eondl-
ton of these lower levels will neces-
sarily grow worse. There is nothing
more directly related to the question Of
the public health and comfort of the
residents of the city of Honolulu and
outlying districts than the reclamation
of these swamps.
.9With the increase in shipping and
travel between these islands and main
land and South American ports, after
the completion of the Panama Canal,
we must recognize the fact that the
Territory of Hawaii will be placed in
the position of health buffer pure and
simple for the Pacific coast. Time and
again. attention has been called to the
possible introduction to these Islands
from Panama. after the opening of the
Canal. of the inoculated mosquito
which is known to distribute Yellow
Fever We already have that mos
quito, but it has not as yet been inoeu-
lated. The Waikiki swamps. unless re-
claimed will offer splendid opportunity
for the breeding of this mosquito.~ and
under present conditions. it wouid re-
duire a large force of men and eEpen-
siye materials to prevent same.
Work of Magnitude.
your commission has felt that its
main duty was not to go into the en-
cheering features of the problem. but
to present to your honorable body the
necessary scheme or plan for financing
and carrying on this reclamation
work. While the condition of these
swamps affect the entire City and
County of Honolulu, the work is OF
such magnitude and cost that it could
not properly be borne by the issuance
of bonds either by the Territory or the
City and County of Honolulu, or by
direct taxation.
problems of this character have been
solved in mainland communities
through the method suggested in the
act presented herewith. Neither the
Territory nor the City and County OF
Honolulu through taxation or the is
suance of bonds could afford to carry
On and complete this work. 1t there
fore becomes the obligation of the
property to carry the burden of its i'm
This method of improve
ments is a new one in this Territory,
as far as statutory laws are concern
ed. The property-owners, however,
have in certain districts of Honolulu
borne the burden of reclamation. es-
peeially within the district lying be-
tween Alakea street, South street,
Queen street and the waterfront.
1.-THE preperty-owners have, of neces-
sity, due to the increase in value of
lands within this district, been COM
PEELED to fill and reclaim them. the
Territory, however. having construct
ed the necessary drainage bitches and
storm sewers at it's expense.
Zone has only to look at the district
hove TODAY. to remember
what it was ten years ago, and APP
Dreciate what reclamation has meant
to the city of Honolulu.
THE scheme of creating reclamation
districts gives the owners of property
and those benefited an opportunity,
through the issuance of bonds
against the property. to distribute,
at a low rate OF interest. the cost of
over a long period of
years. 1t must be remembered, how
ever. under this scheme of formation
Of reclamation districts. that not alone
the lands so reclaimed shall bear the
burden of the cost. but also the lands
benefited by such reclamation. Nee
assarily, certain portions of the high
er lands, the drainage from which
flows into these lower lands, must
bear a portion of the cost in relation
to the benefits derived. This work. if
carried out to completion. under a
general bond issue, would create a
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