The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-06-24
Extension of Mahuka Site Ap-
pears to Be Only a Question
Of Short Time.
A SUSPICION STILL EXISTS
ACting-Governor Believes Money
Voted in Bill Not Omnibus
Building Measure.

According to the way in which Act
ing-Governor Mott-Smith regards the
matter, the money Delegate Kuhio an
nounces he has secured for the payment
for the Fort street extension of the Ma
huka site is not included in the Omni-
bus Public Building Bill items, but has
been secured in another bill, which has
passed. On Monday, the Acting Cover
nor cabled for definite information on
the subject, asking the delegate in eff
feet if the money was in hand or only
bird in the bush.
Yesterday he received reply, the
Delegate repeating what he had already
said, that the money was available
inst as soon as the prices of the lots
and buildings could be learned through
condemnation or other proceedings.
The Delegate has not in his message
cleared up the mystery of where and
how he landed the extra three hundred
and fifty thousand, but he apparently
has it.
Waldron Still Suspicious.
F. L. Waldron, president of the mer-
chants association, is still suspicious
of what may be behind the new move.
He does not believe that the amount
cabled for and secured will be found
sufficient to secure the land desired
and he is still inclined to see in the
activity displayed the hands of those
who would shift the federal building
to the Irwin site.
It is altogether probable that the
merchants association will ask some
pointed questions concerning the fate
of their suggestion that if the site
didn It suit the building the building
could be made to suit the site.
A Question of Values.
The total assessed value of the land
and buildings to be acquired for the
enlargement Of the Mahuka site, ac-
cording to the figures given by Asses
sor Wilder to the Governor, for trans
mission to the chamber of commerce,
to be transmitted in turn by them to
Kuhio, is $245,O0O.
This figure includes the Improvements
and the leasehold interests.
| When it comes to a matter of values,
however, for condemnation proceedings,
the figures are different, although com
Iputed by the same official. The 'value
of the property in that case, amounts
to $325,340, and it was on this value
basis that the round sum of $350000
was cabled to Kuhio as the amount
necessary to acquire the property.
This allows for over one hundred
thousand dollars difference between
the amount available to acquire the
lands and the amount the landowners
and lessees have been paying taxes on.
Story of the Figures.
In view of the frequent remarks in
circulation that "the Governor was at
the bottom of all this" referring to
the suggestion that the property be ac-
quired and that the amount cabled for
would be sufficient to acquire it; as
J matter of fact, and the documents
J in the case show it beyond question,
the matter of securing the additional
Fort street property came as decided
surprise to the Governor, who heard
about the matter first through the
chamber of commerce when he was ask
ed to furnish the assessed valuation of
the lots.
: The Delegate eabled on May 23 fo1
: taxation values and estimates of cost
to condemn the additional Fort street
property The message was referred to
J. p. Cooke, acting president of the
chamber of commerce by the secretary
t Will ]. Cooper, who was instructed tt
7 secure the figures wanted from thu
i Governor. This Cooper did, his reques
n being the first intimation the Cover
e nor had that the architect Is objections
d TO the Mahuka site had carried enougl
weight-after the Delegate had statet
that he would oppose any transfer o
sites-to make the acquiring of the ad
!, ditional property either probable o
II possible.
e The Governor asked Assessor Wilde
e to prepare figures of values, the asses
II sor complying in the following letter
"Honolulu, May "a.
Honorable Walter F. Frear, Governo
Territory of Hawaii, Executiv
Building, Honolulu
"Sir;-In reply to your verbal T!
2 quest for value of the prOpert
= bounded by King, Fort and Merchar
street and adjoining the present fet
eral building site, beg to enclose
at map of such property and to state tha
"A the values which have entered agains
"A the various interests l consider to /
"a very fair.
~ iEstate of Jas. W. Austin, 1851
~ square feet, value, $126,4sO.
"a "John A. Cummins, 10,s5s squai
. l. feet, sss,36O.
Il "Building of E. o. Hall Son, s75
~ "a 600.
a. "Building Of ]. W. Austin estai
~ (old Levers & Cooke), $500.
n "Building Of Bank of Hawaii Oh
M waiian Trust Company Buildiug), slt
600.