The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-11-27
Proposed Government Project
For Creation Of Greater Homo
lulu Harbor Is Approved
Chairman Forbes Sets Out Rea-
sons Why Improvement Of
Post Is Imperative
(FrOm Thursday Advertiser.l


greater maritime activity, with the
opening Of the Panama Canal and the
eessa ton OF the European conflict, were
realized yesterday aud taken into con-
sideration when the maritime commit
tee of the chamber Of commerce put its
stamp Of approval upon a map for the
proposed government project which
would mean q greater Honolulu har,
bor--the extension of Kalihi channe,,
as 1t is known. -
The Kalihi extension channel calls
for channel 1000 feet wide and 1000
feet long, with bulkhead about 1900
feet in length. Il
Basin For Large Ships .'...
Tho present plan differs materially
from one outlined in August by the
chamber Of commerce, which was for
the extension Of the harbor mp TO Ka-
palama basin. The present plan is TO
60 only part way up the channel,
which, it is demonstrated, would make
il possible for the largest ships com
ing aere to turn around in, and would
cost great deal less to complete.
Having approved the map, the cont
lnittee' is now anxious TO prove to
Washington that the project Is one de-
not only by a few individuals or one
o. two civic organizations.
Wharfage is Congested
Charles X. Forbes, superintendent Of
public works and chairman of the
harbor commission, sent communica-
ton to the Governor yesterday dealing
with the conditions which make the
need OF the Kalihi extension imperative.
In his letter he declares that with the
completion Of the contemplated $780,.
900 Fort street wharf, all available
srace for wharf purposes win be In use
lie says that the proposed extension OF
Kalihi viii neeessitate the removal Of
quarantine wharf This, however,
should not be stumbling block, he
says, as Lieutenant Colonel Bromwell
has informed him that the wharf is to
he removed
Superintendent Forbes Letter
The following Is his letter:
I'VE herewith hand you a plan and
set Of photographs showing the pro
posed Kalihi channel extension and the
congested rOrditions of our wharves
We respectfully request that you confer
with the department engineer officer,
Lieutenant Colonel Cromwell for the
purpose Of placing the facts before him
and request that he should cooperate
with us in presenting to the board OF
engineers, for rivers and harbors at
Washington, D. c., the Imperative need
of this Immediate Improvement.
"In former days, IL was possible TO
moor certain number Of vessels in
the stream when the wharves were CON
gested, but even that accommodation
Is restricted now from the fact that
there is no room in the harbor to safely
aahuever our increased commerce
Lack Of berthing facilities for the in.
ereasing number Of larre steamers con,
tinnously calling at this port proves
eoiiclrsively the necessity of havine
additional haebor space and wharves
Available Space Taxed II,
t'All the available space at the
wharves is being taxed TO its utmost
and at the present time, we are design.
ing a reinforced concrete wharf TO be
built at the foot of Fort Street that
will cost 100000 and with its com
pletion, all the available and limited
space for wharf purposes will be in use
and II will be absolutely impossible
for MS to provide any further wharf
accommodations for Immediate or even
future use We believe that the solu
ti0n of the problem lies in the dredg
ing of Kalihi Channel, as per the plan
submitted TO you. With this improve
ment, we would have. additional wharf
space and accommodation for our pre-
sent commerce. As you are aware, We
are now barely able TO accommodate
the regular vessels making this port
including trans-pacifc liners en- rout,
70 the Orient, all of which are OF
schedule time and depend upon prompt
dispatch to maintain their service.
- This proposed extension of Kalih
channel will hecessitate the removal OF
quarantine wharf aud Eieutenan
Colonel Bromwel informs me that thi
wharf is to be removed. ,,l@
Removal Of Lighthouse ,.:.@.
I" You will also notice from our plal
that we recommend the removal of tn,
present lighthouse TO point furthe
to the southwark Of its present lOca
tion and with that area dredged i
would afford more haTbor space an
eliminate all possibility of vessel
touching the wall around Sand ISLAM
when backing out of their slips, as wa
the ease Of the S. S. Tenyo Maru
July 2 Of last year, *. ~
!" You will also note that our recon
mendation is for channel 1000 fee
wide and 1000 feet long and with tina
portion Of Sand Island dredged, W
would have a bulkhead wharf approx
nately 5000 feet in length. . Vs..
All Trade Greatly Increased
We would mention again that o.
August 80. 1914, the chamber Of CON
merce Of Honolulu made report on tn
extension VI Honolulu harbor to tn
Kapalama basin, and the governor pre-
pared map showing the maneuyerini
areas required by vessels. These dat
show IN detail the growth Of shippinI
Ia the harbor since 1905. Not onl
all the imports and exports have in
creased, hut the interisland trade ha
also increased. This report shows tina
even port or deep sea vessels in tn