The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-03-27
Kau Ditch Bill.

asking that Congress grant a fran
chise for the Kau ditch which has
been introduced in the Senate, is a
very great improvement on the bill
which went before Congress some
months ago, and which was with
drawn on account Of the general pro-
test, which was first voiced by this
paper, Practically every objection
able feature has been removed, and
It is to be hoped that the legislature
will give the matter due considera-
ton and help along what now appears
to be a measure which will do the
island of Hawaii an immense amount
Of good. That a few minor amend
ments can be made which will be
beneficial, is true, but the character
of the bill, being specific and not gen
eral, asking for privileges for a Kau
ditch and not the same privileges for
any irrigation scheme which might
be started on Oahu or on Kauai, is
now, as good as that of the proposed
congressional act was bad
The rights of the users Of water
in Hilo district should be most care
fully safeguarded by the government,
but if there is plenty of spare water
which is now going to waste, as Mr..
McCrosson and his associates con-
tend, there is no reason that it should
not be carried to the other side of
the island to perform the task of
making productive hundreds of acres
of land, which have in the past been
regarded as worthless, or at any rate
of no value save for grazing.
Another matter which is of great
interest to Hilo, which has never been
mentioned in connection with the
Kau ditch, is the fact that this COM
pany, as shown by the resolution in
troduced in the Senate, proposes to
generate electric power from its reser-
voirs, as well as to use the water Tor
irrigating purposes. With plenty of
cheap power at hand of this variety,
Hilo should be able to take a fore.
most place in the Territory, when it
comes to manufacturing of any kind.
In Honolulu all power, with the single
exception of that which Is used by
the city to light the streets and which
comes from the Nuuanu dam, must
be produced from steam, thus neces.
stating a great expense for coal or
for 1uel oil.
With plenty of water power avail
able from this source, Hilo will be
in a position to take from the larger
city all kinds of manufacturing pro
positions which may come in later
years. Hilo should get together on
the Kau ditch bill which is now pro
posed, in the same manner that II
fought together to prevent the pass
age of the general irrigation bill.
, A Quarantine Farce.
, Maui News: The examination OF
: passengers coming off the boat al
e Lahaina has resolved itself into 6
!, farce. 1t would be all right if they
e did not put so many people to sucf
: inconvenience. But passengers fol
this side of the island are Obliged t
? get off at Lahaina and in many casei
= pay five or six dollars extra in orde
n to reach Waikiki, simply to go through
t this farcical examination If this thini
S oughly, not merely line up and marcl
: past an official like a herd of cattle
e We are in thorough sympathy with al
u precautions necessary to protect tn
health and welfare of the public. w
- strongly protest, however agains
:, dragging along these unnecessar
IL regulations after all danger is pas
as especially so, when there Is absoutel
b. no examination, and nothing but al
is noyance and inconvenience to tn
er travelling public.
~ Make Franchise Grantees Give Bond
III Hilo Tribune: The Tribune
~ pleased to see that the idea advance
- by it that the seekers of rapid trans
20 franchises for Hilo should show the
So good faith by putting up a substanti
bond, was acted on at the public NEE
ing called by the Hilo Labor Unic
last week. So far some of the fra
err chise seekers have very plainly pr
IS. varicated, while none have, for re
in sons best known to themselves, mat
be any showing whatever in regard
where the money to build roads wi
q was to come from. 1t is true that
ed times 1t is impossible for a franchi
ne seeker, with perfectly good backin
lin to disclose who his hackers al
Capital is timid and often the mi