Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-18
ARRAIGNIvG CAMPBELL, HOUSE !.
J REPORT CHARGES JUGGLING
Scathng Criticism of Administration of Former Supernend
ent - Wharf Work Declared Wasteful Failure - Favor
ssitiSm Said to Have Been Shown

an attempt was made to fill the res
ervoir with water, and after a depth
OF four and a half or five feet had
#Leen reached, the attempt was aban-
doned BY reason of the fact that the
reservoir leaked at the rate Of one
foot in twenty-four hours After an
inspection by the superintendent of
public works. the contractors We're
ordered TO put on lining of cement
and sand and three inches OF con-
crete over the floor, which was con-
sidered as extra work, for which they
were paid the sum of $S0S.75. maxi
ing a total cost up TO that time OF
$5S4S.75.
Still Useless.
Again an attempt was made to fill
the reservoir with water, with a re-
suit similar to the first attempt The
contractors demanded the balance
due them under the contract but were
refused by Friesell, until the reser-
yoir was made water tight. They
then appealed to the superintendent
of public works, who instructed Fries
ell as follows: I want you to write
a letter recommending payment and
get this on our hands The letter
was written, final payment made to
the contractors April 6, 1912, and. the
Territory had on its hands reservoir
costing $5S48.75 which would not hold
water, and was absolutely useless for
the purpose for which it was intended.
For months nothing was done with
the reservoir, and finally new plans
and specifications for new structure
of reinforced concrete to be built fn-
side of the first so-called reservoir
were drawn, and on February Is, 1913,
the eontracs was awarded by Super
intendent Bishop to Picanco and Co.
for the sum of $6125.00.
Under the present contract. a rein
forced concrete wall is being built
against the stone wall first built, and
over this concrete is placed a lining
coat of Eitumen paint The floor Of
the reservoir is also being covered
with a layer of two inches Of cement.
Plans Were Faulty.
From the foregoing your commit
tee finds that the original plans called
for reservoir which would not hold
water, conclusion also INDUCED in
by the very contractors, who did the
work, and the person who drew the
plans, and that fact called to the at
tention of the superintendent of pub
lie works at a time prior to the award
ing of the contract.
"Carelessness, lack of study of
conditions, the absolute insufieiency
of plans and specifications for the
reservoir, and the lack of ability to
undertake such work, has cost the
taxpayers of this Territory, in the
construction of this reservoir, an
amount far in excess OF the cost OF
a reservoir which in the first instance
could have been built of reinforced
concrete, and would have fulfilled the
purpose for which it was intended.
Loss: $f,343.75.
Even allowing that the stone wall
first put in adds to the strength of
the reservoir, and would be necea-
sary in reinforced concrete con-
struction, the completed work would
cost much less on liberal estimate,
than the amount already expended
upon the reservoir, as is shown by
the following:
value of portions used from first
contract:
Excavation, about 1000 cubic
yards, at $3.50 ......$ 100000
Rock facing, 900 SO. yards.
at $1.z5 ........... I,lz0.UO
Reinforced concrete and ce-
mentlng ........... 6,lzo.VO.