The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-07-02
The Man
WHO BUILT
The DITCH
(By L. d. Timmons.)

John T. McCrosson, the builder of
the Hamakua ditch, was born in De-
laware, and arrived in the Islands
first in March, 1880, going to Kohala
plantation, where he had charge of
the traction engines. Remained there
and at other plantations until 1885,
when he went to San Francisco and
engaged in the machinery business.
While at Kohala, Mr.. McCrosson
studied deeply into the water pro
blem of that rich country, and work
ed out during the years at San Fran
cisco the great systems which are
now under way there.
He returned to the Islands in 1893
and, with the exception of business
visits to Washington, London, and
other cities, has been here ever since.
! The Kohala ditch was the first plan
ned and carried out by Mr. McCros.
! son. This was completed June II,
1906, and was the occasion of mon
ster celebration" in which almost
the whole island of Hawaii Joined.
The second enterprise was the Ha-
makua upper ditch, which was com
pleted January 1, 1907. Then came
the greatest, most elaborate, most
difficult and most expensive one Of all
the Hamakua lower ditch, started
in May, 1909, and completed July /,
1910.
Efforts to obtain water on a large
scale for the dry" Hamakua section
of Hawaii had begun, however, prior
to the active association of Mr.. Nc
Crosson with the projects. In 1884
Claus Spreckels, w. G. Irwin. H. p
Baldwin and others had surveys made
and did considerable preliminary
work, but the scheme was abandoned
owing to the decision of Mr.. Baldwin
to concentrate his energies and CAPT
tai upon the island of Maui
In 1S89-90 L. A. ThurstOn, then min
the mountains of Kohala with a view
to devising a scheme for taking wat
err into Kamakua, and in 1S90-91 fol
lowed up the matter further for the
Hawaiian government-the idea be
ing to make the enterprises govern
ment propositions.
In 1892 l.. A. Thurston, then min
lister of the interior, made an officia
survey of the country with the sam,
idea in mind These several survey
formed the basis of Mr.. McCrosson'
later operations and the survey basi
of the three great systems as the,
appear today.
Mr., McCTosson may be regarded a
the originator of the Kohaia lowe
! ditch, having planned this from star
to finish; the other surveys and plan
I referred to having had to do wit
a taking water from the higher levels
, Right here should be mentioned tn
D important work the Lewis Brother
A., of Honolulu and San Francisco, VIII
tackled the financial end of the pro
' blem and furnished the money whic
made the great propositions possible
J. Mr.. McCrosson, having finished hi
water enterprises in Hamalua, wi
8 continue the work of deriving the b.
i nelits of the schemes. In two month
Y he will begin the work of establishin
Z an immense atmospheric nitroge
plant in connection with the Homaku
ditch for the manufacture of calcium
. nitre. This plant will develop SOC
horse power and will cost 100000
j In his work Mr.. McCrosson has ha
g invaluable assistance from Jorge
e Jorgensen, C. E., a Danish army e,
e gineer, who came to the Islands twely
y years ago. His has been the mastc
r.. hand in designing the physical fea
;. ures Of the Kohala and Hamakr
= systems and the systems for the H
!, waiian Commercial Co. on Maui
These gentlemen drew around the
e number Of able assistants. who wi
/ now leave Hamakua to take up wol