The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-11-10
INVESTIGATIONS
RESULTS GIVEN
MendenhalI Outlines System OF
Work in Studying Water
Problems.

In MS report to MarstOn Campbell,
W. c. Mendenhall, geologist in charge
of the ground water investigations of
the United States Geological Survey,
outlines plans for the future study of
| the problem of subsurface water
development in the various islands TO-
gether with the result of his own in
vestigations along those lines. Among
| these latter he states that from in
vestigation of conditions On the Big
| Island, it would be impractical to
| develop subsurface waters at any place
few feet above sea level, although
he believes that there are vast quanti-
ties of water there.
In his report, Mendenhan says:
| fIn order to determine somewhat
| more accurately the nature of this
| problem, [ have extended the time that
| [ originally planned to spend here by
| two or three weeks, in order to study
personally the conditions in the Homo
| lulu basin, and to secure data for. the
| preparation of report on this field.
| In the light of these investigations and
| of such observations as it was posi-
| bic to make, during the reconnaissance
carried out, through your courtesy, on
the islands of Maui, Kauai and Ha-
waii, | am able to recommend to you
the following general plan:
FThe study of that portion of the
| Island of Oahu that has been made and
| the report that is to be based upon
this study should be supplemented by
a further study of the remainder of
| the Island, the final results to be en-
| bodied in complete report for the
use of water users throughout the Is
land. This work can be done at the
same time and upon the same allot-
| ment suggested below for work upon
| Kauai.
Conditions as revealed by develop
ments, and as indicated by surface OBJ
servations are sufficiently favorable ON
both Kauai and Maui to justify the
| Territory in undertaking at as early
a date as possible, a systematic in
vestigation of the underground water
resources on both of these islands I'm
less other conditions make it desirable
| from the point of view of the Terri
| tory to undertake these studies imme
diately, they should be delayed until
| topographic work has been completed
in order that the investigator may not
be handicapped, as at present, by the
| lack of an adequate base map on which
| to record his observations. If the
| plans of the Territory for the early
beginning of a topographic work are
carried out. there will probably be no
delay in the ground water studies be-
vond that which would normally occur,
]
on at least one of these islands will
be completed during the approaching
| winter. and the field notes of the
topographer will serve as well for a
| geologic base as the engraved map
| which will be issued later.
"The work on Kauai and Maui can
be done to good advantage by the
| assignment of properly trained
geologist to each of the islands for a
period of three or four months. If
the Territory desires that it be done
by the United States Geological Survey,
and the present plan of sharing ex-
penseS, by the payment of salaries by
the federal bureau, and field expenses
by the Territory is not interfered with
by an adverse treasury ruling, it is
believed that the work can be accom-
plished by making territorial allot-
ment of not more than $1,000 for each
of the Investigations, each island con
stituting a unit. l should recommend
! that $1,000 be set aside for the winter
of 1901 and another $1,000 for the
following winter, in order that this
work may be, carried through.
"The indications are that on the
largest island, Hawaii, subsurfac'
waters, although they doubtless exis
| in great volume, are so disposed as t.
make it impracticable to develop then
except at sea level, or very few fee
above. At least, it is probable tina
= this condition holds in all except TIL
= oldest part Of the Island, namely, tn
| region of the KOhala mountains.
would suggest, therefore, that n
definite plans be made as vet for tn
| investigation of the ground waters o.
this Island, because it does not seer
with the knowledge in hand. that sue
] an investigation is justified. Whe
the study of Maui is undertaken, how
ever, the geologist assigned to tina
Il task should make a more careful recon
noissance of Hawaii than | have bee
able to carry out, and after tina
I reconnaissance, a final determinatio
can be reached as to whether the TEE
ritory is justified u carrying out DE-
! tailed study in this Island.
= "In accordance with the terms c
= our oral agreement, Mr.. T. F. Sedg'
/ wick has been instructed to collect &
full information as possible on til
| statistical and engineering phases {
| all the underground water develoI
/ ments in the Honolulu basin. Thes
| data are to be used to supplement- ii
| geologic studies which I have carrie
out and are to be embodied with Il
| results of these studies in a final T
port. He has also been given such j
structions that if the Territory is alb
to continue his assignment to tn
! work, he may collect similar data ov'
the remainder of Oahu, and over Il
islands of Kauai and Maui. TT
| geologiSt will work to much bett
advantage if this material is asser
hled in advance Of his own investig
| tions. 1t Is therefore desirable TIL
Mr.. Sedgewick 5 assignment to III
work be continued until he shall ha7
completed il for the three islam
| named.
"A report upon the problems tn
! exist in the Island of Nolokai is {
- ready eXtant, and it is not recommen