The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1913-02-07
MILLIONS ASKED
FOR HARBOR WORK
Commission Plans Call for Bond
Issue Of $2,50O,ooo for
Needed WharveS.

Permanent improvements to the value
of two and one.half million dollars will
be made in the harbors of the Terri.
tory of Hawaii within the next two
years IL the recommendations of Har.
bor Commissioner James A. Wakefield,
made at conference between the mem.
bers of the commission and Governor
Frear yesterday afternoon, are carried
out by the coming Legislature,
For nearly two hours the Governor
and members of the commission dis
cussed the needs of the Territory s
harbors. Though the question of har-
bar improvements has been discussed
before, the commission was not ready
until yesterday to submit definite esti-
mates as to the probable cost Of the
work necessary. The discussion brought
out the fact that the facilities of the
harbors of the Territory at the present
time are taxed to their utmost and
with the expected increase in shipping
in the next few years the principal
ports will prove inadequate to care for
the vessels.
A Bond Issue.
In the event that Governor Frear in.
cludes the recommendation in his mes
sage to the legislature that body will
be called upon to authorize the issuing
of bonds to the amount of $2,500,000.
Work is to start as soon as the Terri
tory can arrange to float these bonds,
which win perhaps be during the pres
ent year.
This money will be in addition to
the regular funds which will be re-
qured to maintain and operate the
wharves of the Territory.
The money secured from the bond is
sue will be used principally in per-
manent construction at Honolulu, Hilo
and Kahului. Not until these improve.
ments are carried out will any effort
at permanent construction be made at
the other ports, it is said. This does
not mean that the wharves now in use
at these ports will not be improved.
Permanent Work.
"The permanent construction work
we now plan," said Commissioner
Wakefield, "has been under discussion
for some time and all members of the
board approve of it. Concrete will
take the place of piling and the
wharves will endure. In the past we
have paid as much as $l50,0O0 for some
of our wharves only to find that after
few years we have expended nearly
the original cost in upkeep. With per
manent construction, this item of up.
keep will be practically eliminated.
1--WE do not care to repeat our Ma
hukona wharf experience, where a $14,
600 structure was swept away within
a few months after it had been accepted
by the Territory
1t was nearly four o'clock yesterday
afternoon before the commission began
its regular session. Despite the lac
of time, opportunity was found fol
transacting large amount of business
Commissioner Berndt was unable to re
main for the meeting. Bills to thu
amount of 29,341.55 were approved
and ordered paid,
Somebody Blundered.
No attempt was made to conceal thu
fact that some one blundered in plan
ming the Mahukona wharf on Hawaii
The investigation made by Commits
sioner Wakefield last week SHOWED
that the walls of the structure wer
built upon flimsy foundation of small
loose stones, to be undermined an,
carried away during the first storm
. The contractor was not held to blame
for Superintendent Bishop said tina
his reports showed that the contracto
had more than complied with the speci
ticatiOns. The error, it was limited
was probably due to the original plan
and specifications.
The Mahukona wharf cost the Tel
ritory $4,000. 1t was accepted las
November. The recent storm at Ma
hukona was the first to test tn
strength of the frail structure and
, was swept away. The condition of tn
: structure is such that it was not deeme
worthy of repair. An estimate as
the cost of new wharf was submitted
!. 1t is figured that the debris on til
present site can be cleared away an
. more substantial wharf built fC
$4,000.
1t was decided to prepare new plaI
J. and specifications and get everythin
[ in readiness to begin construction wor
Y while the coming legislature is calle
!. to make an appropriation for I'll
= urgent work.
I. Oil Pipe Extension.
" An effort is to be made to hay
IS the oil pipe line along the waterfrol
completed to allow serving the Alakt
IS and Oceanic Steamship Compar
D. wharves by April l next. Bids for ii
IT building of the line in accordance Wi
70 specifications, submitted yesterday, w
Is be called for at once. The specific
Il tions require the line to be complet,
~ by July / next. The urgency clau
= was inserted following receipt of
y communication from c. Brewer & @
- representing the Oceanic Steamsh
20 Company, in which the difficulty in su
70 plying fuel oil 10 the company Al
~ tralian beats now touching here we
ol pointed out and the commission urg
es to remedy the condition.
ne Permission was granted the You
n Mems Christian Association TO use
nc vacant room on the Alakea wharf (
he an information bureau for Japane
yn The application was mAde by Paul 5
lper, general secretary of the associate
ne Wait for ohia Blocks.
VI A report from Assistant Super
tendent A, C., Wheeler of the depa
ment of public works showed that
ohia block industry Is temporarily ii
Ia up as "A result OF the destruction of I
ter pahoa mill. Because Of this he r
commended that the Lord Young 90
pany he allowed 20 las concrete 10
ts... Ia. la