The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-12

Gooding Field, in his report to lhe
chamber of commerce presents the fol
lowing discussion Of Honolulu's prob
/ lens
Conflict Of Authorities.
No more striking illustration of the
conflict i'm authority between the Ter
ritory and the City and County can
| be found than that which at present
exists between the Territorial depart
ment of public works and the local
Offices of the city and county engineer
and road supervisor. The city and
county restricted in its operation of
public Improvements 10 highways
which, properly speaking, refer to the
! land which is employed for highway
purposes and the structures and i'm
provements upon such land, including
pavements, sidewalks, curbs, bridges,
tunnels, grades and fills, and also the
work connected with the cleaning and
/ laying of storm drains and the clean
! ing of catch basins. The territory, on
the other hand, through its department
/ of public works, has charge of the
sanitary sewer system and water
works. The result of this division of
labor and authority works Il hardship
on the city and county, as fair show
| ing for road maintenance cannot be
made by the local authorities when
the streets are being continually torn
up by order of the Territory, without
regard to the plans of the city and
county engineer.
The frequent digging up of the
streets by the Territory to lay water
pipes, and failure to properly replace
1.-THE macadam, work ruin to the gen.
Rral scheme for the city's road i'm
Eprovement.
! Highways, Sewers and Water W"rks.
With the control of highways, sew
ers and the water works under one
authority, and in the hands of the city
land county, where it rightly belongs,
official responsibility for results
would then be definitely placed.
Road and sewer betterments and the
water system and under the control
Of one head in all progressive cities
on the mainland, and should be so
centered with us in a local department
OF public works. This local depart
ment, furthermore should have under
its supervision the disposition and
collection of garbage Cunless turned
over to the Territorial Board of
health; management of street light
Ling; care of schools and control of
ianitors; building and plumbing in
spectiOn; care of parks and school
grounds; the purchasing of all city
materials and supplies; and, generally
have jurisdiction over all permanent
improvements. Each of the foregoing
divisions should be in charge of a.
superintendent, who would report di-
rectly to the head of the public works
department: AS these divisions take
up matters in which engineering prob
lens are, more or less, connected,
their Capitalization would result in
increased economy and efficiency
Road Betterments.
Road betterments is a vital question
in every city, and its present import
ance to the city and county of Homo
! lulu calls for the most serious con-
isideTation. 1t is an undispu.ed fact
that unless we adopt a well defined
permanent road policy in keeping with
other cities, no lasting results can be
expected. Economic road work cannot
be undertaken by spasmodiC or de-
Ginning effort.
From an analysis of disbursements
of the public moneys of the city and
county for recent years, as shown in
Exhibit c." herewith submitted,
since the year 1908 the OUTLAWS for
road improvements and maintenance
have steadily decreased from i4.94 per
cent of the total government eXpendi-
lures IN that year to 2717 per cent
Of similar disbursements in 1911, or,
from $2GS, O63.33 in 1905 10 $l93,744.45
i'm 1911. Looking to the fact that all
,other OUTLAWS have increased from
S274.7S394 in 1905 to $459,29726 in
1911 the policy-if it can be so named
hes been to relegate road better
ments TO minor place in the city's
activities.
Road Contracts.
The board of supervisors apparently
take the view that the expenditure of
few thousand dollars permanent
road work should suffice for all time
and contracts have been awarded ac-
cordngly. AS consequence, contrac'
y tors bidding for the work have been
generally local, and with their scant
resources and facilities have tender
ed bids much in excess Of those which
could have been obtained from eX
Iper.enced mainland firms, possessing
complete organization and up-to-date
equipment. Local contractors, more