Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-08-22

Chamber of Commerce yesterday af
ternoon, the committee on harbors,
shipping and transportation, consist
ing of E. E. Paxton. chairman; E. D.
Tenney and E. H. Wodehouse, sub
mitted a statement reviewing the
work done by the Federal Govern
ment in the Improvement Of harbors
in this Territory, and also covering
the status of wharf Improvements by
the Territorial Government pursuant
to appropriations made by the last
session of the Legislature. Follow
ing are the portions relating to Fed
eraI improvements, Honolulu Harbor
and Hilo Harbor, space not permit
ting the printing of more Of the re-
port this issue:
To the President and Trustees of the
Honolulu Chamber of Commerce,
Honolulu.
Gentlemen: In compliance with
your request the undersigned Com,
r1ittee submits herewith brief state
ment reviewing the work done by
the Federal Government in the i'm
provement. of harbors in this Terri
tory, and also covering the status of
wharf improvements by the Territor-
ial Government pursuant to appropri-
ations made by the last session Of
the Legislature.
Federal ImproFements-O of the
most important results of annexation
has been the extensive harbor i'm
provements in the Territory under
taken by the National Government
When the Islands we're taken over all
of the landings were mere open road
steads, except Honolulu, with very
little natural protection even in reg
ular trade wind weather. The en-
trance to Honolulu Harbor was mar
row and tortuous and the harbor it.
self was entirely inadequate for the
then existing traffic, which has since
been more than doubled.
The War Department of the United
States, realizing that adequate harbor
and transportation facilities are alb
solutely necessary for the develop
ment of the natural resources of the
Territory, proceeded on the theory
that at least one good, safe harbor
should be provided on each of the
four larger islands of this group. The
results are that Honolulu Harbor has
been much enlarged, and deepened;
extensive Improvements are under
way at Kahului, on the island of Maui,
and Hilo, on the Island Of Hawaii.
For the remaining large island,
Kauai, preliminary surveys have been
made of several points deemed wor-
thy of possible Improvement, culmi-
mating. in the recommendation of the
District Engineer for the improve
ment of Nawiliwili Bay at an esti-
mated cost of $1,036,000 Said recon-
mendation was submitted at the pres
ent session, of Congress, but so far no
action has been taken in the matter.
In addition to the, work undertaken
by the Department. of War the Navy
Department has just. completed the
enormous task of dredging a portion
of Pearl Harbor, and is now engaged
in the construction of a large dry
dock, machine shops and other works
necessary for the creation of a great
naval base.
We will now review, seriatim, Fed
eral improvements at Honolulu, Hilo,
Kahului and Pearl Harbor.
Honolulu Harbor-Work on Homo
lulu Harbor was begun by the Federal
Government under appropriation by
the River and Harbor Act of 1905. At
that time the entrance channel had a
minimum width of 200 feet, and a
depth of about 80 feet at mean low
water. The harbor proper had gen
eral width of 900 feet Immediately
along the wharves for about 200 feet
the water had a depth of 30 to 30 feet,
but elsewhere there was only about
q feet of water.
The existing project was subse-
Quently adopted by the River and
Harbor Act of March I'd, 1907.
1t provides:
(a) For an entrance channel 400
feet wide and 35 feet deep.
(b) For cutting off Lighthouse
Point. ..
s(c)e- For enlarging the ~harbor