Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-10-03
THURSTON TELLS Of RAILROAD \
PLANS FOR ISLAND Of HAWAII
Future Transportation Development and demonstrating Dis
CusScd in Testimony Given Before Secre-
tary Fisher

lay the situation orally before the SD
perntendent OF Public Works. This
i done to save getting a lot OF super
fluOuS papers on fife, as If an apphca'
ton is first filed without knowing
whether it is going 10 meet the approx
al OF the government, ii will probably
be amended and amended. numbering
up the record. Consequently an oral
| application is made first, then an ap-
| plIcatlOn is filed with a map and de-
| ScriptiOn by metes and bounds: the
] approval OF the Governor is obtained.
and a grant made either for a specific
| piece or for an accumulation of sew
| eral pieces and grant made for each
| specific piece.
| Fisher: 1t would not be so necessary
for you to do that if there was a COM
| plete statement on record of just why
! you needed this?
| Thurston: | doubt whether | should
90 into the explanation | made now,
| but | am glad to make public state
ments at any time in any place, con-
| corning any transactions of the Hilo
| Railroad Company.
| Fisher: There was considerable
| feeling in Hilo regarding this matter
at one time?
Ne Feeling in HiIo.
Thurston: No, sir. There never has
been any feeling manifested nor any
| criticism manifested at the area of
| land proposed to be granted. AS a
matter of fact, public meeting was
| held in Hilo at which a map showing
his 40 acres was posted-ds large a
| public meeting as have seen in Hilo
and the only suggestion was one
made by Mr.. Metzger, which was that
the location be changed. He proposed
| that it be moved close to the Waia-
kea terminal grounds, which we
thought would be very much less adj
vantageous to the public.
Fisher: Wasn't it clearly 4he fact
that this new location would take IN
| Mr.. Metzgers lot?
Thurston: Our present location
! Goes cover Mr. Metzger's lot, but we
have not taken Mr. Metzger's lot
| but We have not taken Mrs. MetZger's
because we don't need it for the
present.
Metzger's Situation.
Fisher: We had quite a discussion
with Mr.. Metzger in Hilo on the prop
ositiOn and in talking with your re,
| preventative there-and We rather ar
rived at the conclusion that it might
he possible for considerable period
of time much beyond this six years
possibly before the necessity of re-
Quiring Mr.. MetZger to move-in other
words the reason you wanted to cross
especially that portion of the grounds
now occupied by Mr.. Metzger with his
house and outhouses would be appar-
emily only to get access to your main
track, and it seemed possible to do
that without disturbing Mr.. Metzger
iOd of time, if at all?
ThurstOn: That is correct?
Fisher, l don't understand why
there would be any disposition on the
Fart of the railroad to disturb Mr..
Metzger provided the question of
title would be protected so that no
| intricacies would arise as to the
title of the railroad company.
| Thurston: AS a matter of fact we
did not question Mr.. Metzger's title
he has absolute title from the Wal
akea Mill Company.
Fisher: | am talking about the
time beyond the six years. Mr.. Metz
ger has put in some improvements,
| and it is some question whether in
a six years occupancy he was going
| to get back any return-under the
existing circumstances he would have
| acquired possession in equity and
would in time get the fec. Under
those conditions it had seemed to me
| that possibly he might have some
equities that ought to be recognized
beyond the six-year period, if that
could be done without raising any
implication as to your title.
Thurston: AS matter of fact the
bulk of Mr.. Metzger's lot lies in that
portion which has been reserved by
the government which they have re-
| fused to grant to the railroad or any
one else, so that the question will
arise between him and the govern
ment. The portion of his land which
lies in the railroad grounds is COM
! paratiVely small in value compared
with the government land.
Fisher: The sole question is the
one | have raised-whether or not it
would be possible for the railroad TO
construct its tracks so as to leave
Mr.. Metzger the use of his lot?
Railroad Not after" Metzger.
ThurstOn: Certainly, there is no
disposition on the part Of the rail
road. 50 far as | am concerned. so far
as | know, 10 cause any hardship 10
Mr.. Metzger in that connection.
Fisher: Then this is government
property. You are paying nothing for
it--no cash; what You are paying, if