The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-03-27
WAHIAWA WATER
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and the value of the same. As the
result of such consideration, it is the
view of the military authorities that
approximately 100000 gallons Of
water daily will be sufficient for
water supply for the mobile troops to
be stationed at Schofeld Barracks,
but that in making any disposition of
the water the right should be re-
served to use more should it become
necessary at any time. To provide
such supply it is proposed to have
the Quartermasters Department con-
struct an intake on the 12O0-foot con-
tour on the south fork of the Kauko-
nahua, with the pipe line therefrom to
the site Of the post"
Further, the letter says: AS to
the amount of water pertaining to
this reservation, it would seem from
the recent surveys and the evidence
submitted regarding the same that
the South Branch of the North Fork
of the Kaukonahua River is not on
the reservation, as formerly supposed,
and if such be the case, the water to
which the Government appears to be
entitled is that of the South Fork
only, having an average flow for the
four driest months of the year of
about 100000 gallons daily. Under
the laws of the Territory of Hawaii
the water supply of the reservation is
considered an appurtenant to it, and
as subject only to the water rights of
the owners of "taro lands" farther
down the watercourses. Under the
decisions of the courts, these owners
have certain primary rights, long ex-
istent, and the proportion of the
water of the South Fork to which
they are entitled would not exceed
100000 gallons daily, leaving 12,000,-
900 gallons as the average daily sup
ply for the reservation during the dry
season. According to the best infor-
nation obtainable, the salable value
of the surplus water not needed for
military purposes, would be approx
mately $4,000 annually. Should the
reservation be discontinued and the
lands disposed of for agricultural
purposes the entire supply would irri-
gate only a portion of the lands in
cluded therein which would be avail
able for agricultural purposes. This
supply should not be permanently
alienated, since such action would
deprive the reservation of the water
supply which rightfully pertains to it,
and would greatly decrease its value
should it be abandoned for military
purposes and disposed of for agricul-
tural uses. Practically all Of the sup
ply flows into the reservoirs of the
Wahiawa Water Company, and should
no action be taken to dispose of the
water, the company will be left in
the enjoyment for the time being, and
without compensation, Of the very
valuable water supply"
Mention is made of the hearings on
the McCrosson bill given to J. T. Nc
Crosson and to the Wahiawa Water
Co., and the contention of the COM
pany that its rights-under the pro-
viso that its attorneys insisted meant
an apportionment of water between
the government and the company-is
rejected, The letter says on this
matter:
"The insertion of the proviso requir-
ing the company to furnish water
needed for post and encampment pur-
poses may be explained by the fact
that when the act was passed the gov
eminent had no present right to the
use of any water of this stream, since
the reservation was under a long-term
lease which had three years yet to
run. The language of the proviso
should be construed with reference to
this fact as requiring the company to
furnish water required for post and
encampment purposes, during this pc
riod, and as permitting the govern
ment to receive its own water though
the water system of the company after
the expiration of such period. How
ever this may be, there is nothing in
the language Of the proyiso which
would show any intention to make
such an apportionment of water rights