The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-05-30
KUHIO TO BOOST
THE petition
ASKS FOR OPTIONS ON IRWIN
SITE PROPERTY IN BEHALF
OF CONGRESS.

Stories that Prince Kuhio, Delegate
to congress, is rigidly opposed to the
presentation of the petition to congress
for change of the federal building
from the Mahula to the Irwin site,
seem to be slightly off their base, ac-
cording to the report of a conference
held between the Delegate and A. L. c.
Atkinson, who has been securing the
signatures.
Just before Delegate Kalanianaole
started for Washington on the Wilhel-
nina, he went to the Office of Attorney
Atkinson in the Judd building and
looked over the petitions. He was
greatly impressed by the thousands of
names, and remarked to Mr.. Atkinson:
81 think you We got together very
well, and l tell what you do, Jack:
You get the, options on that property,
so that | can have some figures to sub
nit, and II present this petition.''
This does not look very much as
though the Delegate contemplated util-
izing some congressional wastebasket.
Carter to Assist.
Former Governor George R. Carter,
chairman of the sanitary commission,
has lined up with Attorney Atkinson to
assist in securing the options desired.
By the time the petition is presented to
congress it will be accompanied by all
the figures which will help to clinch
the work of the treasury department
for the Irwin site, site which the de-
partment has from the first been in
favor of.
In fact, the indications are that with
the presentation of the petition and fig
ures as to cost of site, the plans for the
new federal building on the Irwin site
will be well under way before there
would be any chance of even beginning
to settle the controversy over the extern
sion of the Mahuka site, and more and
more the business men of this city. as
witness their signatures on the petition,
are realizing that if this citv desires
a federal building within reasonable
time they should boost for the Irwin
site, which is just what is wanted by
the treasury department.
! Meanwhile communication has been
opened with Mr.. Irwin, who is in Paris,
and an answer is expected from him
before very long. 1t is Inserted that
he is in favor of selling out at a rea-
sonable price.
VIII Mako oher.
Assistant United States District At
tOrney William T. Rawlins, who owns
the makai side Of the sO-called Irwin
site, the end where the shacks are
situated, is quoted as willing 10 sell
TO the government and will make a def.
mite offer based on the appraised value
of the land.
The Spreekels estate, which owns the
greater interest in the Hawaiian opera
house, has already been approached
through its agents and it is understood
that no obstacles viii be placed in the
way of securing this part Of the pro-
posed site.
And while these preliminaries are be-
ing gone ahead with those directly in
terested in the scheme for a city beau
tiful and the civic center idea, are pre-.
pairing to submit plans for the widening
of Palace Square.
Extending tho Square.
The original lines laid out by /. Mul
ford Robinson for tho extension of the
square made the lower boundary start
fourteen feet makai of the corner OF
the tennis court on Richards street, ex.
tending in straight line through the
onera house and between the Judiciary
building and the Kamehameha statue Ia
the tomb Of I.unaIilo
The new line, q modification Of the
old. proposes 10 start from the south
side Of the square exactly at the ton,
MIS- court corner and pass mauka Of the
statue, which will stand on the edge
Of the square. the line running 10 just
opposite the KaWaiahao church. Thus
the vista from Eva Of the square, and
down King street. would show the beau
tiful old pioneer church and lie gFounds
- the opposite end.
"Tell my friends, our opponsnts, d
remarked Attorney Atkinson yesterday
"thaf Whsn this petition gets % Wash
basket laTgs enough 70 hold u vita 81