Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-05
ALBERT WATERHOUsE TALKS TO HONOLULU AID Club
BOOSTsFOR ONE LARGE And UNITED COMMUNITY

( ana very Hucn 10 De desired, Sloulu
have been undertaken only after the
privisions of the Law had been carried
CUT ''
IF the city is going to pay 50 per
cent Of the cost of work in the bust.
| ness district where property values
range from 800 to $500 and $4,000
per square foot and the entire cost
CT such improvements, if assessed di.
rectiy to the abutting property, would
be an inappreciable percent of its tax
alton value or earning capacity, what
| proportion does the city intend to
stand for in the residence districts
where property values are from 10
tcents to Is cents per square foot and
where the cost Of the improvements
becomes a considerable proportion OF
the tax value and perhaps burden
some charge on the earning capacity?
In the city proper, and here ]
| would include such accretions there.
to as Manoa, Kaimuki, Mokaueo and
the. like, If the entire cost Of paving
is not to be borne by the abutting
property interests, then it seems to
me two classes should be distinguish
ed, a first class, where the property
could afford to pay the entire cost,
and a second class, where the per.
centage to be borne by the city
should be definitely known.
Question of Favor -
What Is going to happen If Manoa
and Kaimuh be put in the second
class and acting together or separate
ly petition at the same time to have
water pipes, sanitary sewers, storm
semers and permanent paving laid?
Where can the city find money to Fl.
rance her end of it providing the SUI
pervisors elect to bear a part of the
cost? Who, If some must be put off
to some indefinite time in the future,
is to be the favored one and get the
improvement asked for Immediately?
II think these are some of the
problems which bother the present
city government, and a solution OF
theirs which will be satisfactory TO
all is an impossibility.
Many people with whom have
talked do not agree with me, but /
believe the proper course to pursue
is to put the entire cost on the i'm
proved section. Leave 1t up to the
property owners themselves. II a
majority sof these desire the mud
street and cesspool let them keep
them as long as they do not endanger
the rest of the community. If they
want better conditions, they can be
had for the asking. What difference
does 1t make whether you stand treat
when your turn comes in the crowd
aor whether it is Dutch treat, unless
you hope to let the other fellow do all
the buying.
's"The law gives the so per cent ma,
jorityi q chance by. petition to state
their preference as to the type Of
pavement desired. g.
fThe problem of the engineer Is to
pave the streets with the material
best adapted to them. 1t is not a
simple one. He will find that differ
cnt interests want different mater
ials. -
Boosting Necessary
The people residing or doing bust
|nes ION d street wish a smooth, quiet
Pavement and one that is easily
cleaned, and care nothing about how
it affects traffic; the team owners,
on the other hand, wish pavement
that offers slight resistance to traf.
fic and is not slippery and have no
regard whatever for the noise caused
by the vehicle. The determination of
the supervisors may differ from that
of either of the above interested par
ties. To harmonic these different
demands, even after careful study
has been made is not simple mat
ter. .~f.~ '
+ 1T requires more than a passing
interest in those who desire to boost
the good work along - q. .
THE law gives the city and county
the right to lay pavements,, not ad-
hitting of competition without adver-
Using for tenders. While this may
be all right, the opportunity for graft
is present and will some day be util-
lied. Many of these patented pave
ments are good articles and are need
ed in our future construction of
streets, but l believe it would be well
for the board of supervisors to follow
! the example of the state highway de-
apartment of New York in its action
with regard to the use of bitulithic
pavement.
Upon the commissioner of high
ways determining that any pavement
in any city or village or any county
or state highway in the state of, New
York shall be constructed of bitulithic
pavement the owners of said patent,
within five days thereafter, shall file
with the state highway department at
their Office in the city of Albany, n. Y,
a price at which they will deliver said
material to the contractors in connec-
ton with said work to- be constructed
or improved. Said price to be avail
able for any contractor desiring to bid
upon said work, and the provisions
of the offer of said company to be ap-
proved by the state department Of
highways.
ANY consideration of the pave
ment problem when brought down to
definite determination must end with
the adoption of some paving material.
RI have no brief for any particular
pavement, but desire to call to your