Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-02-15

tltlc Is I'LL Unusually ldGSe cOuSuHlp-
ton per capita and an unusually small
number of consumers, in comparison
with the length Of pipe line, The con
sumption has been reduced by the dis
covery and prevention of waste.
Out of former appropriations from
the loan fund the Nuuanu dam and res
eryoir have been completed and are
already paying a fair rate of interest
upon their cost. iN
The waterworks naturally have been
of long and gradual growth, its differ
cnt parts having been constructed
from time to time according to the
needs for the time being; hence, much
Of the system is unsuited to present
conditions. The city is now growing
in population and expanding in area
more rapidly than ever before; hence,
there is need of considerable develop
ment in the system. Much of the pipe
line is too old to bear much pressure,
and in some cases the same line var
les greatly in diameter in different sec
tionS, thus producing undue friction
for the pumps. New lines are needed
for growing suburbs and the new Nuu-
anu reservoir should be utilized to
greater extent by using its water to
generate electricity with which to OPP
crate the pumps which lift from arte-
sian walls. For purposes of economy,
protection from fire, reduction of in
surance rates, and to meet the needs
of growing city, large sum, to be
obtained by the issuance of bonds,
should be provided by the present Leg
islature, such bonds to be added to
those to be paid, principal and inter-
est, out of the revenues of the works,
This can be done without increasing
the rates and may result in reduc-
ton of rates, besides the advantage
of more dependable water supply for
direct use and for protection from fire.
kua Pipe Line. This line has been
completed at cost of about $500, 900,
the amount appropriated out of loan
funds. Owing to fall in price, q
pipe was laid of several times the ca
pacity originally planned.
Artesan Wells. The Department of
Public Works, besides conducting a
topographic and photographic survey,
referred to more fully under the head
ing Conservation has had extensive
data prepared and careful investiga-
ton made of artesian wells, especially
on the island of Oahu. 1t is evident
from the information obtained that all
possible precaution should be taken to
prevent waste of artesian water in or
der to avoid serious diminution in the
supply. The present law upon this
subject should be amended so as to
make it more effective and particular
ly by defining what is waste.
PUBLIC LANDS.
Changes in Land Laws. The enact
ment last May of amendments to the
Organic Act mark the beginning of a
new era in public land matters in this
Territory. Those amendments pro-
vide for greater simplicity in the adj
ministration of the land laws and
greater certainty as to their meaning;
they provide for settling numerous IT,
ties to church sites, and for granting
preferential rights for the purchase of
residence lots by those who have
lived on them and improved them;
they impose further restrictions on the
leasing, exchanging and selling of
public lands for other than homestead
purposes; most important of all how
ever, they facilitate the homeSteading
of public lands with bona fide home
steaders. A drawing, covering l,026
lots, has already taken place and prep
arations are being made for another,
which will cover numerous new lots as
well as old ones Provision was made
in the amendments for meeting, out of
the proceeds of the public lands, the
9 la, MT nf
veying that will be required.
Homestead Roads. The act proVid-
ing for the construction of homestead
roads out of the proceeds OF sales for
homestead purposes, should be amend
ed so as to obviate the necessity and
Inconvenience of setting aside such
proceeds as special funds; also SO as
to increase the amount available for
such purposes by including interest on
deferred payments and rents under
right of purchase leases; III other
words, so as to permit the use OF all
money properly arising from home
stead agreements for the construction
of homestead roads, for, at best, the
amount will probably be small enough;
and also so as to provide somewhat
Nv
opened for residence or business pur'
poses as distinguished from home
stead purposes, as, for instance, by
permitting so much of the proceeds as
may be necessary from the sales of
lots on the slopes of Punchbowl to be
used for the construction of roads
made necessary by laying out that
tract into lots and blocks. Needs of
this kind arise at almost any time and
cannot be long foreseen for the pur-
pose of making appropriations for
them; it is often practically useless
to open tracts for homestead or resi-
dence or business purposes without
constructing the necessary roads; and
it is appropriate that tracts so opened
should, in sense, pay their own OK
DenSeS.
Purchases of Land for Public
Purposes.
Formerly private property required
for public purposes was usually ac-
qiiired by exchange. The method was
changed two years ago by providing
that such property, instead of being so
acquired, could be acquired by selling
property that might otherwise be Civ
en- in exchange and using the proceeds
In purchasing the property required
This provision is now inadequate be-
cause of the limited cases in which eX-
changes can now be made under the
amendments to the Organic Act The
act should therefore be amended so
that the proceeds may be available for
this purpose whether the land could
hax