The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-06-26
H|[O HARBOI
NEEDS TOLD
GOVERNOR !
Committee Urges Reversal Of Pre-
ent Policy Of Prohibiting "a
vato Waterfront Holdings |
Would Have Hilo Declared
Free Zone" for the Trading |
Pacific cargoes.
(Mail special % The Adverti,.r,

mail Special TO The Advertiser)
HlLo, June 23.-iThe board Of trad
committee on the matter Of opehiag Z
the Hilo waterfront presented its r
port to Governor Pinkham yesterda
The Governor was noncommittai
Discussing the matter, but show "a 1,
terest in the eommittee's plans an
appears to be in sympathy with som
of the recommendation, which. base
upon the proposition that the TerrI
tory Is financially unable 10 buil
wharves, are for arrangements un6e
which private parties shah be Above
to acquire wharf sites. II As under
stood that the subject was brought
the front to a considerable extent b
the recently announced plans o. th
Inter-Island Steam Navigation Com
pany to establish roaling statipn ant
build a wharf therefore, IL ailOwe
waterfront space. 1890
The report to the Governor, as pre-
scented by the board Of trade eommIt
tee, consisting of Doctor Elliot, job
Scott and VIM. MeKaye, is as follows
Relation to Transpaeiae Commerce.
1.-THE future growth and prosperit
of the town Of Hilo are directly and en-
tirely dependent upon the proper anl
early development Of the harbof which
is being created by the construction o.
the breakwater by the federal govern
ment. When this breakwater Is com
pleted the harbor will be easily access
ible to vessels Of the largest tonnage bJ
day or night and will afford them ade
quate protection in all operations Of
loading or discharging cargo or fue|
supplies. The geographical position Of
the port is such that, if adequatelJ
equipped to serve the needs Of this traf
fie in a convenient and expeditions man
ner, there is every reason to believd
that II win play an important part III
future transpaeific navigation. Wd
feel that Hilo is now at the parting Of
the ways. Neglect to prepare for fu
ture expansion means loss Of opportun
ity; only. wise provision at this time
can ensure a position of ADVANTAGE
when opportunity presents itself"
Kuhio Wharf Not Enough.
Reviewing the past and present deyel
opment of Hilo Harbor, the committed
continued: si3tal
with the completion of the Knhio
wharf rs. it is presumed that this
will be the point OF transference for
practically all of our oversee commerce.
We desire to point out that, however.
that even then the berthing accommodate
ton win be insufficient to deal ade-
quately with the volume OF business att
this port. The berthing space at this
wharf amounts to nine hundred and
twenty feet. During the month of
May there were ten vessels averaging
each in length four hundred and .fftyI|
feet at this port. In addition to these |
vessels there were, also, two Japanese H
cruisers. lumber schooners, aud the MS, 4
ual number of inter-island staamera. De- H
easionally three of these large vessels
are lying in the bay at the same time,
and we anticipate that 1t will soon he
a usual sight to see an even larger num-
Der than this. 6
Necessary Development.
''If the port Of Hilo Is TO have any |
value as a port of call for future. trans |
Pacific navigation il is essential that
we shall be in a position to offer the
carriers certain advantages and con.
veniences. We can not hope 10 at.
tract foreign vessels by means, Of any
local trade that we have to offer them.
Our magnet must be cheap water. and
ample supply of coal and fuel oil. At
pyesent we are not able TO take de-
livery of large carg0ts Of either coal
or oil, and there is no waterfront or
adjacent land available for establish
ment of sueh depots. To take delivery
OF these commodities in sufficiently
large cargoes that will ensure mini.
mum of handling cost IL is necessary
to provide spes ial wharf where this
work can be done, and at which vessels
can secure reptenishment as required.
Further, these operations can not be
conducted without the use of land, and,
IL it is hoped 20 induce private eorpor.
ations TO emf r this field of supply, IN
adequate and convenient area must be
obtainable by them with reasonable Sc
curity of tenure.
A Free Zone.
The members of this committee
are imr ressed with the view that one
of the greatest conveniences to com.
mercp on this ocean would be the Is.
tablishment of free zone at this port
where goods could be discharged.
stored, and redistributed at small cost.
The harbor Of Hilo presents peculiar
advantages for this purpose. II is suit.
ably located, easily accessible 10 all
pessels at ali times, and the local can
litions ensure cheap and economical
supervision after establishment In the
immediate vicinity of the waterfront
there is very large area Of public
land which could be utilized for this
purpose; m.
Former Government Policy.
1.-THE declared policy of the Terri
torial government as evidenced in
numerous instances during the past
four or five years is to hold this own.
ership for the public, and TO refuse
TO ALLEVIATE any part Of il to private
corporations or individuals. The rec
ord of this policy Is contained in the.
proceedings of the boards of harbor
commissioners and land commissioners.
SO far this policy has not been serious.
" challenged either by interested par
ties or the public at large. IL n zen