The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-09-05
u. S. engineering
OFFICERS REPORT
KUH|OWHARF SAFE
Tests Of Currents and Tides Fail
To Show Any Undertow
At Dock
OBSERVATIONS IN HlLO BAY
ARE NOW ALMOST COMPLETE
Others Will Be Made BY Local
Engineers When First North
Storm Breaks

Despite the fact that no authorized
! statement can be secured from Mai. K.
r. Raymond, United States engineer
located here, there Is reason t. be.
lieve that the current invrslugHtiDn,
made under the direction Of that de
partmCnt show that the Kuhio wharf
at H'Io is safe in every respect.
Following reports that this wharf
was not a safe place for large vessels
to moor an investigation was conduct
ed by Charles X. Forbes, chairman Of
the board of harbOr comm issionrrs to
learn if there was any foundation for
the complaint.
Forbes spent some time at HIlO
studying wharviug conditions there
and especially in regard to the Kuhio
wharf. The result of his investigation
was 70 show that the charges against
the KuhiO wharf were grOundless and
apparently inspired by interests OPP
posed to the big harbOr improvement
The action of the skipper of the
Great Northern, following, that of
other captain of large vessels, who re-
fuse to tie up at the new dock brought
the matter to a crisis. The reason he
is alleged to have given was that a
heavy undertow at the wharf made it
possible for ships of great tonnage to
be torn from their moOrings.
Wharf Declared Safe
1t was this fact that Forbes partic,
ularly Investigated, and following
conference with number of shipping
men, and especially captains Of indie.
pendent vessels, Forbes reported that
the structure was one Of the best on
the Islands and that it was as safe
as any pier of the kind could be. In
short, the alleged undPrtOw appeared
TO be largely creature of some one :
imagination.
The people of HilO. however, were
anxious that an improvement which
was built at heavy expense and
which means so much for the chief sea
port of the Big Island, should be be.
yond criticism determined to have OBJ
ServatiOns conducted that would prove
absolutely that the pier was fully
equipped for the purposes for which it
was constructed. To this end re-
quest was made to the United states
Engineer office for scientific study
Of the tides and currents in the neigh
borhpod of the pier.
Observations Almost Complete
Most Of these observations have been
completed. They we're conducted by
o number of men under the direction
of the United States engineers office
and were extended over long period.
Floats, tide gauges and other hydro
graphic apparatus was used in making
akA q
rents.
Except that it is intended to make
further studies under conditions that
obtain during northern storms to de-
termine the action Of the sO-calIed
backwash, the work of the United
states Engineer s office is practically
finished.
A report of ne investigation has
been made and placed in the hands of
Major Raymond tip till yesterday he
had not had an opportunity to give the
~epOrt a careful scrutiny.
When Major Raymond was asked
,bout the report yesterday he said:
Report Now On File
Yes, ! have received the report OF
| the work done by the men of our de,
oartment 1t is now in my office.
have not given it NOR" than casual
| reading
"What is your opinion of the find
ings of your mrA!" he was asked.
81 cannot give any opinion on the
subject at this time. | will have to give
the report careful study Even then
10 not know that | will give n public
opinion. At the most l believe thai
this Office will only make report of tn,
| findings of our Investigations without
| Offering any opiniOn.'
The general opinion however. appear
to prevail that the wharf is abs0mtelS
safe and that rumors to the contrary
are not founded in fact This, II hal
been pointed out, is especially so since
the extension of the brrakwater which
acts as protection to the wharf. Be
fore the breakwater bad been sufficient
y extended slight back water actor
had been observed. The completed
N the neighborhood Of the new pier a
safe ais any in the Islands.
Upon his return from Hilo Superin
tendent of Public Works Forbes de
clared that although the KmhiO whar
was one of the biggest assets of th
Big Island city, that the business o
the port was growing so rapidly tina
another wharf is acutely needed.
The shipping business of the port, h
said has reached such magnitude tina
the Kuhio wharf did not afford wharf
age facilities sufficient to relieve tn
congested condition.
1