The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-03-25

Especial Correspondence of the Starr
HILO, March 22.-The citizens of
Hilo went on record yesterday as
being in favor of the construction of
the best possible roads, irrespective
of cost, though their sentiments were
not framed in those particular words
There have been many rumors of late
regarding the attitude of the super
visors toward the proposed expendt-
tUfe for the Bolabola road and the
sections between Hilo and Hakalau,
rumors which were lent authenticity
by the statements of Chairman Jim
Lewis, but these were all swept away
at the meeting of the Loan Fund
Commission.
Jim Lewis voluntarily gave evil
dence of his own untrustworthiness
when he declared that the talk OF
Injunction had originated with him
self, that he had told the editor of
he added, ut was up to the news
papers to find out the truth Until
this declaration from Lewis, which
followed a denial by County Attorney
Beers that he or his assistants had
been asked to prepare injunction pa
pers, considerable time was wasted
discussing the attitude of the super
visors.
The protest of the supervisors, as
well as that from the Board OF T. ade,
was dealt with in open meeting.
When the Board of TRADE protest was
read, Marston Campbell moved that
reply be sent denying that the Com
mission had formulated a policy at
the Honokaa meeting, as charged, and
when the Supervisors kick was aired
a similar reply was directed to be
made.
On the bids being read, Campbell
moved that the Bolabola bids be re-
jected in toto, which took the wind
out of the sails of many of those
present who had prepared to attack
these bids. The bids on the Hilo-
Hakalau sections were then opened
for discussion.
County Attorney w. H. Beers en-
deavored to justify the supervisors
protest. He had a brief prepared
which he read, pointing out that the
roads in the Puma district had cost
from two to three thousand per mile,
those in the Hilo district five to sew
en- thousand per mile, in the Kau
district $4,000 per mile, in Kona from
three to eight thousand that in Ko
hala and Hamakua there were no
macadam roads but that the dirt roads
had cost two to eight thousand per
mile. He stated that his understand
ing of the position taken up by the
supervisors was that they did not
wish to hinder the Commission, that
they wished good roads but wanted
them constructed at a lower cost than
the specifications permitted; that If
possible, the specifications should be
modified, but that, in the event of good
roads being unobtail'able except at
the cost as disclosed by the figures
submitted, then the Commission
should go ahead and build the roads
without fearing any opposition from
the supervisors. He was not a road
builder but thought that cutters could
be dispensed with in the outer dis
tricts.
Plantation Managers j. Watt and
John Scott and DR.. Archer Irwin sided
with the Commissioners and their
forcible remarks were greeted with
applause.
John Watt reviewed the figures pre-
scented by County Attorney Beers and
ridiculed the idea that there had ever
been any road construction in Ha-
wall. All that had ever been done
was repair work, and there wasn't a
real road in the island. He castigated
the supervisors for protesting in the
matter, declaring that it was simply
politics and poor politics at that. He
ventured to assert that, had the low
est bids being submitted by either
( Johnny Wilson or J. T. Brown, no
objection would have been made by
the supervisors. 1t was foolish on
the part of the Board of Trade and
the supervisors to criticise the Belt
Road Commission, as Mr.. Bishop was
the only real roadman they had ever
had in Hawaii and he did not wish
to see Mr. Bishop hampered. If good
roads were wanted the price would
have to be paid.
Dr. Irwin agreed with Mr.. Watt