Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-10-11
BUSINESS men DECLARE FOR
MAHUKA SITE OPPOSE PLAN
TO name A SECOND CHOICE

honolulu business men FORMALLY
went on record yesterday as against
dallying further with proposals to
change the site of the new Federal
building. The Chamber of Com
merce and Merchants Association
meeting jointly, killed by an over
whelming vote a set of resolutions
designed to make the Spreckels site
on Merchant street the second
choit e."
The sentiment OF the meeting was
practically five to one against con-
sidering any site for second choice,
and when the vote on the resolu.
tions was called for, thirty-seven OF
those present expressed themselves
in favor of sticking to the Mahuka
site, while eight favored the Spreck.
els property as next best available.
More than hundred men were
present at the meeting, fairly repre-
senting every industry of import
ance in the Territory, and their
opinions were shown in no uncer-
tain way by the strength of the OPP
position to the "second-choice" idea.
The Mahuka site enlarged. II the adj
ditional property can be secured, and
the Mahuka site as 1t has already
been secured, are what Honolulu's
business interests demand II the
meeting of yesterday is any indica-
ton.
Discussionon the matter was free,
though not general. but apparently
those who took no part in the lively
arguments were satisfied to let 9TH
ers voice their sentiments, for there
was little actual debate when the
resolution was finally brought up for
action. Many took no part in the
voting, most of them being conf
dent that the "second-choice" idea
had no chance of succeeding.
Vice-President Walter +. Dilling-
ham of the Merchants Association
and Vice-President J. p. Cooke OF
the Chamber of Commerce were
Joint chairman of the meeting, Mr..
Cooke putting the motions. ]. II.
Gait brought the question OF naming
second-choice site before the bust.
ness men by presenting resolutions
declaring for the spreckels site. He
had previously opened the discussion
by making an Introductory speech
In which he went briefly into the
history OF the Federal building, In
Guiding the appropriation of $780,
900 for additional ground. Mr.. Gait
stated that the doubt existing as to
the governments ability to acquire
the additional land for sS50,000 put
the Mahuka site in a bad way and
indicated a long legal fight over the
condemnation proceedings. He then
Rudolph Spreckels to James +. Nor
gan, president OF the Chamber OF
Commerce, and w. f. Dillingham;,
which was as follows:
Spreckels' Offer.
"On behalf of the trustees OF the
Estate of Claus Spreckels. l beg to
inform you that II the lot belonging
to said estate, situate on the makai-
Waikiki corner OF Merchant street
and the extension OF Bishop street,
containing about 1851 square feet,
is desired by the United States Gov
eminent as a site for Federal
building, the trustees OF said estate
will at any time before the first day
of April, 1911, accept the sum OF
two hundred and fifty thousand
($25O, O0O) dollars therefor; provid-
ed that the two abovenamed asso-
Citations approve this day of the
above described site as their second
choice, In the event of the Mahuka
site being abandoned for any rea-
SON."
Having read this offer, Mr.. Gait
offered the following resolution,
which was seconded by w. IL. Me-
lnerny:
Whereas, Congress has appropri-
ated an amount not to exceed $780,
900 for the purchase of additional
ground space for Federal building
In Honolulu; and
Whereas, The additional space
desired consists of ground and build
ings adjoining the Mahuka site and
located on the Waikiki side of Fort
between King and Merchant streets;
and
Whereas, 1t seems doubtful that
said property can be secured for the
amount OF said appropriation, in
which event further action viii have
TO be taken by Congress with the
possibility of long, delay covering
possibly a number of years before a
permanent and satisfactory site for
Federal building can be secured;
and
Whereas, Mr.. Rudolph Spreckels,
for the Spreckels Estate, has offered