Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-03-31
LOGAN DEFENDS
CITY RECORD in
BUILDING ROADS
No Flight" Between Munich
pality and Rapid Transit;
Some Comparisons

1T Is a pity that the eommonest
brand of fair play can not be used by
some people when discussing the city
government, said Supervisor Logan
yesterday afternoon
Take the case OF the inFidious COM
parison often heard between the Rap
id Transit Company and the munich
pality with regard to street Tnainten-
ance. Parrot4ike, from mouth to
mouth, the jibe runs that the best
part of the streets over which the cars
run is that which is Kept in repair by
the company. Some more reckless
will make the comparison universal
and say that the only good roadway in
Honolulu is what the company main
tains. Even the statement that is
partly true has not by any means
held entirely good in fact
Some extensive stretches Of the car
where the city's share is in good
shape and the company's much the
contrary. For example, portion Of
King street within the past few
months. When a complaint came
from the Ad Club about that tho
ronghfare lately investigation showed
that the chuck-holes and the over
growth of grass mentioned by the
president OF that body were entirely
within the kaleana Of the Rapid Tran
SIT. However, I am not aware that
there Is any quarrel on between the
company and the city. The little DIFF
ference about tearing up the streets to
build temporary track for carrying
out a private contract Is purely a Ques-
ton of construction Of the companys
charter with the laws that have been
passed changing the jurisdiction OF
streets.
Facts and Figures.
"However, since the work of private
corporations is continually cast up to
the supervisors as something that
should make mark of efficiency to
aim at, the public ought to be made
aware Of SOME facts and figures which
will enable il to make comparisons
with some degree OF conmon-sense. In
giving q little data of this sort, am
not rejecting upon the Rapid Transit
Company in any way. But as the
question is street making and main
tenance, and there is no other cor
poration In that business here, some
comparisons between the company's
and the city's operations in 1915 may
Justly be offered
There is in tile city district Of the
municipality 1877 miles of confirmed
streets. The mileage Of track of the
Rapid Transit Company was last year
4 traction more than "a miles, While
the company has only the width OF its
tracks and foot on each side to main
tain IN good order, the city has all
the rest of the width and the cutters
and storm drains besides to look
after.
sHonolulu had receipts in all funds
for 1915 amounting TO 1883, S5S, "a.
OF this amount s10S,7SS.20 was cash
basis. of which dollar could not be
expended without its being refunded
before the end Of the year. Deduct
ing this dead money. the city had In
eight separate funds for use $l,250.-
0S4.s4. The revenue Of the Rapid
Transit Company for the same year
was 35S6. $500. This is nearly half
as much money as the entire amount
the municipality could expend.
MunicIpaiity's Record.
Last year the municipality built
from eight to ten miles OF new per
,nanent streets and roads, besides
malxinn substantial repairs to q much
Greater mileage and keeping IN good
condition many miles Of the principal
c,tv and country roads-in fact there
are reputable citizens who use the
roads in autos very. extensively who
say that they never knew the roaas
10 be SO well maintained as since the
'nresent board took Office
.4n 1918 the Rapid Transit Com
,anv ,ex0ended in maintenance and re-
construction Of It's right OF way the
sum Of $50 1866. This is $4,000 less
fl1an the city spent in the building o.
school houses and maintenance OF
schools alone. sa,s.t.
eThere is no need to extend com
narisons, but the general remark may
Ne made that, with little more than
twice the revenue Of the company
named the municipality has done the
road work generally specified above,
besides maintaining the police, hre,
lirht alarm. hospital, sanitary, charit-
able. promotion, parks and public en-.
fertainmeft services in more liberal
.renner than had been done By any
preceding board or any central gov
ernment before the county was start
ed.