The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-10-04
GET EXCITED OVER
KAU DITCH

HUI UuLU AhU UIIUU
The San Francisco papers play m
the proposal to construct bic ditch
from Olaa into Kau as one of Ono
greatest irrigation projects over at.
tempted The Chronicle states what
the ditch win De able To accomplish.
and adds.
I'm the Eau district there are at
present two large plantations the
Hutchinson and Pahala, both of which
suffer moro or less every year for
want of water; in fact, IN some years
the yield is cut down materially be.
cause of drought Manager Carl Wal
ters of the Hutchinson plantation.
who was I'm this city for some little
time has just returned to Honolulu.
il is understood that his visit to this
city was chiefly for the purpose of
organizing an irrigation company
whose object will be TO secure an
adequate water supply somewhere IN
the Hilo district and carry il bv
series of bitches and tunnels one
third the distance around the island
into Kau district and along the upper
levels of the cane lands of the two
plantations referred TO- The main
ditch will be carried past the crater
of kilauea, probably 1000 or 1900 feet
below that famous volcanic wonder
and down into the region which is
so sadly in need of water.
All those interested i'm seeing that
portion Of the big island developed.
are of the opinion that the United
States Reclamations Service has there
one of the best opportunities to put
its theories into practice and money
into practical use. With a combina-
ton fthe Federal and Terri
torial governments and the strong fl
nancial interests engaged in the cane
industry in that part Of the island the
water no going to waste i'm the Hilo
highlands viii be conserved and car
ried to the thousands of arid acres
and one Of the richest agricultural
districts in the world will be deve;-
oped and made productive.
Edward POLITE, of the well known
banking and brokerage firm Of Ed
ward POLITE e Co., Of this city. is
president Of the Hutchinson planta-
ton Company In speaking of the
proposed enterprise he said: This
scheme is big one and it will re-
quire both time and money to bring
1t to completion. Fortunately the SUI
gar plantations of the Hawaiian Isl
ands have proved themselves money
making concerns and their reputation
stands so high in financial circles
that there is no trouble i'm gettipe
capital even for big enterprises like
the one now to be undertaken. This
scheme contemplates a ditch about
30 miles I'm length, which win cost
little more than $4,000, 900, but it will
bring to the lands or the Hutchinson
plantation 100.0OO,OOO gallons of wat
er per day if that amount is required.
The sources Of supply are inexhaus-
tible and with such an enormous sup
ply Hutchinson plantation will readily
take place among the plantations pro-
ducing 10000 tons per year, where It
now averages about 1000 tons per
year. 1t will not only make it posi-
BILE to supply the Hutchinson and Pa
hala plantations with all the water
they require and at the proper times,
but 1t will also make it possible to
bring under cultivation vast areas
of excellent soil which heretofore
have been unavailable because OF
lack of water. The scheme involves
two propositions One is the granting
of a water license, the terms Of
which will protect ell who require
water from the same sources in Hilo
district, and the other relates to
the disposition of public lands intend
ed to be irrigated in the district of
Kau. There will be no trouble from
these sources, however. The irriga-
ton ditch company will issue bonds
and build the system, ana the planta-
tons will take such quantities Of
water as may be required on long term
contracts. The work will require
about two years to complete"
MONEY IN CIRCULATION.