Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-07-07
JUSTIFIED IN TAKING THE REINS.

Honolulu experience with the local improvement
district plan OF paving is the universal experience OF
American cities.
Conditions here, 50 far a, city improvements Co.
not fundamentally different from these in any
other American city.
Here, a everywhere, there are plenty OF individu-
al protests; plenty OF individual kickcr> The kicker
and the knOCkcr solitary they are ubiquitous.
Here. even mirc than in usual degree the
leadership must be taken by the city Off
Gals. There is little, if any, definite public
sentiment specific details OF Improvements.
The public knows in general way that it is Disguised
at poor paving. at grassgrown main Streets at dust
and dirt and filth and mud By electing its mayors,
boards of supervisors and other officials it has placed
its acceptance upon the promises they made fluenty
during the campaign, to better conditions substan-
TALLY if elected.
With the advice and investigation of employed
experts at its command the city council or the board
whatever is called-speaking now of cities gen
eraly-is expected to be able to initiate improve
ments Leadership is expected of the result-getting
kind.
The Puunu road situation illustrates the point that
sometimes-often in fact-the elected officials must
take the reins in their hands on local improve
ments and adopt the which appears to be OF
greatest public value. So far the rens have been
held alternately by the Country Club directors and the
Puunui Improvement Club committees. There are
objections to the plans each side has submitted The
Puunui Club is the most representative of owners,
but members of the board declare that the Circle
Drive plan which it favors, involves more expense
than can be afforded now particularly as the county
is asked to pay share. Yet the City Planning Com
mission the city engineer and the road committee are
more or less heartily in favor of the Circle Drive
scheme
This is case where the Star-Buletin believes the
board would be justified in working out scheme of
its own, and insisting that if the property Owners
cant agree plan of theirs, the city plan should
prevail or no improvement be made,
The delays thus far prove that the board wishes to
give Puunui every chance TO get together. If is
now claimed, the Circle Drive plan is SO expensive
that many small property owners will suffer such
assessments that they may refuse to join the petition
it is manifesty the province of the board to take the
reins and draft more equitable plan.
s A few days ago the St. Paul Dispatch carried an
editorial worth reproducing in this connecticut
If it hopes to carry an orderly and successful
program of paving improvement the council must
adopt firm and judicial course The perfection of
system will mean Individual hardship in cases;
this is unavoidable The occasional property owner
will find 1t difficult proposition pay the
ment which expresses the benefit to his property.
The Improvement comes to him almost a confis-
cation His protest is natural He joined by others
in opposition to the paving for other and less sub
stantal reasons and showing is made to the council
which might in cases swerve its Judgment But
streets must be paved. The march of improvement |
necessary urban development and the purposes of
the public cannot be stayed The wishes or the ne
cessities of the few be permitted to stand in
the way OF obvious public demands. 1t up to the
judgment Of the council and calls for firmness and
in carrying on paving policy that has met
general public approval
St Paul, too, has its local Improvement troubles