Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-05
Mayor and Supervisors Guests
of Jorgensen-See Details
of Engineering Feat

! An observation Of the south portal
of the Waiahole tunnel was the treat
given yesterday by Jorgen Jorgensen
! the contracting engineer, TO the mayor
and supervisors. with other guests
/ following up the visit of similar
party to the north portal ON Wednes-
day. r.-. -
From the large but idle power plant
installed by Mr.. Bishop, the former
sl4G,0G0, the party was conveyed into
the mountains upon the railroad. sew
en- miles long with maximum grade
Of : per cent, to the south portal
situated at an elevation of 725 feet
above sea level. The engine is of the
Notwithstanding type with rotary
drive.
Waiawa gulch through which the
track winds presents exceedingly
Leautiful scenery, although less pic.
turesque than that on the windward
side. Instead of the sharp peaks on
the weather side of the ridge, grace.
full domes wooded to the summit form
the skyline. .
A short distance from the top the
line passes Il rOck-crushing plant tC
serve the cementing work in the tun-
neIs. At the portal are the air conf
pressor for the drilling, the electric
hauling motors, cable traction mechan-
ism and other machinery, including a
device for making tin cartridges to
protect the dynamite charges from
water. .-.# a..
Besides rushing torrent of water
going to waste under the floor OF the
main tunnel, a 20-inch steel pipe
stretching like huge serpent over
the bluff, near the mouth of the tun-
mel, carries an immense volume Of wa
ter oyer an adjacent ridge to the
cane fields of the Oahu Sugar Co. For
the present this water is discharged
into the old Ahrens ditch When the
main tunnel is completed its output of
water will be carried off by twelve
lateral tunnels for distribution in the
fields, their aggregate length being
10000 feet From the ends of the sub
sidiary tunnels open bitches totaling
three miles in length will extend, to-
y
the. water across the !iligh4banked
gufches., Az. a d;ssanee of 100 feet
from the mouth the south portal will
be damned up to divert the water into
the distributing tunnels
Measuring stations win be establish
ed in the main tunnel-one at the
boundary line between government
and Bishop Estate lands under the
WaiahoIe ridge and another close TO
the south portal, whereby the amount
of Bishop estate water to be paid for
viii be determined.
Owing to the danger of broken
skulls from the elevation of the track,
Mr.. Jcrgensen would not take the risk
of sending his guests to the head OF
the drive. They were taken on the
troIleys, however, for a distance OF
1900 feet into the first distributing tun-
mel With the aid of lanterns they
were enabled to inspect the roof and
walls, which. with the exception OF
short portions through solid rock, are
constructed of masonry and cement.
After being treated to a toothsome
luncheon in the clubhouse, the party
was returned over the railroad to the
starting point Here the autos were
taken to the ditch line at Kipapa
gulch, where the party took a walk
through portion of the ditch which
has been cenented, also into the tun-
mel as far as lie first crosscut where
the bottom is now being lined. Work