The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-02-17

other purposes, and for the charging
of appropriate fees for furnishing sucn
copies.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The last legislature provided for the
establishment of a public library and
appropriated a small sum for main
tenance for the current fiscal period, in
the hope apparently that the funds for
the construction of the building might
be obtained by gift and apparently also
with the idea that arrangements might
be made by which the library of the
Honolulu Library and Reading Room
Association and the proposed public Ii
brary might be combined in some way.
Negotiations are under way, which 1t
is hoped will result in such a combina-
ton. There is good reason to believe
that the necessary funds for the build
ing can be obtained from a well-known
philanthropist in case the necessary
legislation and such combination with
the other library is effected. A new
law should be enacted as a substitute
for that enacted by the last legislature,
which will be satisfactory not only to
the expected donor but to the trustees
of the Honolulu Library and Reading
Room Association. recommend a
permanent appropriation or guarantee
of so much annually as may be neces-
sary to the extent of 10 per cent Of
such amount as may be donated for
the building, but not to exceed $4,000
per annum. If the other library com
bines with this, the proceeds of It's
funds will probably furnish $4,000 or
$4,000 per annum of the required
amount leaving only the balance to be
furnished by the Territory, say, $4,000
or $1,000 per annum, if 100000 is do
mated for the building. This is a very
small amount for project of such i'm
mense public benefit, the educational
value of which in its many possible
phases would probably exceed that Of
the expenditure of several times as
much on the public SCHOOLS. The TO-
900 volumes or so of the other library
would make a good beginning, and the
library of the Hawaiian Historical So
ciety might also we'll be housed in the
public library.
PUBLIC WORKS.
General.-The department of public
works has charge of all internal i'm
provements except those now transfer
red to the countries. These cover, be-
sides other matters, harbors and land
ings, water works, sewer works, new
roads and bridges, and public build
thgs, including court houses, jails,
school houses and hospitals, through
out the Territory.
The expenditures during the last two
fiscal years were $1,273, 464 49, of which
$817, 7O6. % was out of loan fund and
$455, 1853 ga out of current revenues, and
the receipts were $599,7S3 SO.
Proposed New Work.-New work
should be done as Tar as possible with
reference to comprehensive plans de-
long time to come. Much study, es-
pecially of water, sewer and wharf sys-
TENS, has been made during the period,
and tentative or preliminary plans for
lie buildings, have been prepared for
the use of the department with this
end in view and as a means of assist
ance to your honorable body to enable
should be appropriated for them. The
estimates for needed works aggregate
more than a million and half dol
lars. A statement will be submitted
pressing.
In this connection, we should remind
ourselves that upwards of three million
dollars have been expended in public
improvements out of loan funds since
the establishment of territorial gov
eminent, thereby bringing the bonded
Indebtedness up to nearly four millions.
While this is only about three per cent.
, of the assessed values of real and per-
sonal property, care should be taken
not to increase it except so far as alb
solutely necessary, especially for
improvements that will not produce
revenue. Every increase means an ad-
ditional annual charge on the revenues
for interest and sinking fund.
Honolulu Water Works. call your
special attention to the Honolulu water
works. Early in the period it became
apparent that the cost and time Of
completion of the Nuuanu Dam and Re-
servoir would exceed the necessities of
the case if the work were continued
under the original contract, and ac-
cordingly that contract was cancelled
and new contract made, involving
less cost and time for completion, I'M
der which tha WOrly has OrOpppdp0 in a