The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-06-02
Could Develop Electric
Power for ArteSian
Wells.
DAM IS INSPECTED
Pollution of Reservoir
Is Slight Chance
Of Danger.
tProm Thursdays Advortiser.)

(From Thursdays Advertiser.)
Marston Campbell's often discussed
proposal to utilize the water collected
in Nuaanu reservoir No. 4, referred to
commonly as the "Nuuanu dam,.' for
the development of electrical power, to
be applied to the pumping of artesian
water for the domestic supply Of the
city, received big boost yesterday
when the members of the sanitary com
mission gathered on the reservoirs
bank and discussed the danger possible
from the use of the reservoir water for
drinking and household uses.
The danger existing is not due to the
building of the new reservoir. AS
matter of fact, the new reservoir, being
the largest and farthest away from the
city of the Nuuanu system, is less open
to contamination than the three which
preceded it, but nevertheless, in the
opinion of some of the commission,
there is always danger to the com
munity so long as large part of the
city draws its water supply directly
from mains fed from this reservoir.
The suggestion of the superintendent
of public works is that the water be
piped to the city and the big fall uth-
ICED for the development of electrical
power This power would be sufficient,
in his opinion, to pump all the artesian
water required for the city, while the
Nuuanu water could be utilized for irri-
CATION and fire purposes. Enough sur
plus electricity would be available, &C.
eOrding to the engineers, to treble the
capacity of the municipal electric light
ing system, or to be sold to consumers
To carry out Campbell's scheme
would necessitate, of course, double
system of water mains, more artesiau
wells and additional pumping ma
chinery.
Commission Inspection.
The sole attention of the sanitary
commission was devoted to the great
dam yesterday and various opinions
were expressed upon it, its prominence
in the Honolulu water system making
It one of the most important feature!
yet inspected by the commission.
"Of all the places that have seer
SO far" said Doctor Currie, "I be
Heve this is the most dangerous from
INC W MhlSA
it is open.'
Commissioner Keller disapproved o
It for the same reason adding some sug
gestions as to the remedy that nigh
be applied.
"And as I said before" addet
Chairman Carter, eve are in the argu
mentative stages of our work and hav
not yet come to the conclusions.
might not accept the opinion of Doc
tor Currie; he might not accept mine.
Guard Inehicient.
The commissioners searched vainl
for the guard they heard was stations
at the reservoir. Occasionally glimpse
were got of a man who rambled aroun
the dam, but he stayed consistent
half-a-mile from the visiting party an
Mr. Keller remarked that he might
the guard, but they had disproved hi
efficiency, anyway. He also remarked
that while standing on the ridge abov
the dam some time ago he had see
= number of boys swimming in the poi
: IN Kanaha Valley from which the re-
ervoir receives large supply of waite
The most serious objection which th
commission found, however, was I'll
character of the country over whic
the reservoirs supply is dfainei
Chairman Carter explained that it ha
been the government 3 policy, at Leaf
while he was Governor, not to dispol
Of any land of the watershed maul'
of the reservoir site and that doub
less the policy was being continued.
Doctor CuTrie called attention to IL
fact that the public road drained ini
the reservoir and showed how, for il
stance, late arrival from the OTien
a cholera carrier, and of no clean,
habits than those which gave rise
tho oriental hotbed of epidemics, eou
make contamination of the entire re
srvoir possible.
Element Of Chance.
While such appears to be a reno
chance, the commission for the tin
being looked at the magnitude of Il
results Of such an action and did n
figure out the mathematical ratio
chance in such an occurrence.
Commissioner Keller thought th
typhoid would be the chief danger
which the reservoir was exposed. Dc
tor CurFie advocated a purely artesii
water system for the city, at Will
the chairman pointed out the great 60
Of pumping at the time when such
system was In effect.
The notes gathered on the valley tE
have been hled away with the vOlumi
Gus ones taken Previously and ava
more mature discussion. The comm
sion win resume It's inspection OF {
tenomtns this afternoon, CHARM
Carter having become particularly
terosted IN the living conditions Ia
city ~ he has aean them on form