Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-19
kauai RAILROAD
DECISION ISN'T
REACHED TODAY
Situation Changes and Land
Commission May Not
Take Up Project

Although il was expected until an
early hour this afternoon that the
land commission would finally dispose
of the Kauai railway proposition, in
which the Lihue Plantation and Ma
kee Sugar Company are seeking the
privilege to build on government land
for the benefit of the Kappa home
steaders, il was stated later that the
board would not meet, as the govern
or still has certain points of the pro-
posal under advisement and is not
ready to discuss it. 1t is understood
the board will not meet again until
some time next month. "@": ". r.
1t was intimated by a member this
afternoon that the board may not take
up the Kauai railway subject at all,
the governor desiring to handle it on
his own responsibility alone, prob!
ably earryingEt before the legislature
at the approaching session. ~@ +,=@
Several members of the land board.
which met this morning. will leave
for other parts OF the territory today
and tomorrow and at the request of
Albert Horner and John l. Fleming,
who said immediate action is impera-
tive If the Lihue Plantation Com
pany's proposition is to be accepted,
An afternoon session was proposed
and later dropped. Dr. j. H. Ray
mond, chairman of the board, held an
interview with the governor at noon
to ascertain whether the board can
undertake the subject now without
conflicting with his plans.
The urgency of immediate action
was explained by Homer who, said
that IL the Lihue Plantation Company
is to build the line as it desires to do
work must begin now and the pineap-
pie cannery which Horner and his
associates intend building must be
completed by May / under their con-
tract with the territory.
But we will not begin work on the
cannery until we know where we
stand" he declared. I'VE do not pro-
pose being placed in the same situa.
ton that the Haiku homesteaders
found themselves. We must be as
sured of our outlet and transportation
facilities. The cannery must be ready
by May i, as the pineapple crop now
growing will be ready at that time
There are 30 or 40 homesteaders who
nave been on their land more than a
year and have put their funds into the
crop and they must be accommodated
when the crop is ripe or they will lose
what they have put into the enter
prise" 30
Col. 2. S. Spalding of the Makee
Sugar company, which also desires to
build road for the homesteaders. ac-
commodating at least portion of
them, including number who have
cane lands, was a member of gen.
eral land conference held with the
governor at the executive chamber
yesterday afternoon Horner, Flem-
ing, Land Commissioner Tucker and
majority of the members of the land
board were present, but the Kauai
railway matter was not discussed, at
tenticn being given only to the home
stealing situation in a general way
At the land boards session this
morning Land Commissioner Tucker
was granted permission to sell at pub
lie auction the school lot on Kalakaua
avenue opposite the Moana Hotel, at
an upset price of more than $4,000.
This plat is not large enough for
school purposes and the commissioner
intends obtaining larger tract for
the school at some point nearer Ka-
piolani park
Rather sensational charges are
made by H. B. Penhallow, manager
of the Wailuku Sugar company, in a
letter read at the commissions meet
ing this morning. in which Penhallew
opposes the proposition advanced by
T. B. Lyons. deputy county clerk of
Maui, for an exchange of land with
the territory. Lyons owns plat near
the Royal School in Honolulu, which
for several years has been used by
that institution. He offers to trade it
for tract of similar value on Maui.
Penhallow openly charges, in his
communication to the board, that Ly-
ons is preparing to work "holdup"
game on the Wailuku Sugar company,
because the tract he is seeking to get
separates lands owned by the sugar
company and is so situated that the
owner could make serious trouble for
the company if he chose. The land
Lyons wants is under a lease to the
sugar company which does not expire
for four years. Chairman Raymond
was authorized to thoroughly investi-
gate this affair, the board meantime
deferring action until its next meet
ing. .."