Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-14

Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
Sir: Apropos good roads, city and
county engineer, and a few other
things:
To a person that has been in the
construction game for several years
and has gained a good deal of know
ledge from observation and practical
experience on road construction in diff.
ferent countries, wish to make few
remarks which may prove OF interest
to the taxpayers and our honorable
mayor and board of supervisors.
In the successful placing of per
manent roads there are a few fun
damental facts that should be kept
constantly in mind.
The older you get the sooner you
will realize the impossibility OF chang
ing Natures laws.
Roads, like bridges and buildings.
must be built on properly prepared
foundations to make them permanent.
In preparing the foundation or sub
grade of a road. too much attention
cannot be given to drainage. 1t is i'm
material whether the road is of dirt,
sand, rock or concrete, sub-base and
drainage are the primary considera-
ton.
Nature has been extremely liberal
with these islands as to road con-
struction.
Conditions for drainage are ideal,
and we have no heavy frosts to con-
tend with like in some countries, or
months of constant and heavy rains
like in Cuba and the Philippines.
Coral rock and sand, if properly
placed, have no equal for sub-base
construction and there is an abun-
dance of both in these islands.
l have seen some of the finest
roads ever constructed and coral
rock, shells and sand were used al.
most entirely.
But there is one important thing in
using sand and coral which either
means the success or failure and that
is the road roller.
Roll, roll and roll, then roll some
more. Lengthwise, crosswise and dia-
agonal. 1t is of the most importance
that after the rock is placed that the
sand is placed in layers and the sub.
grade rolled until all the voids be-
tween the rock are packed solid.
l have seen some of your roads
under construction and one especial
ly, that has cost you good many
thousand dollars. l was surprised at
the Indifferent way in which the sub.
grade was placed and from past ex.
periences l am sure that road will be
like the ocean wave. .
Road building is past the expert.
mental stage in every country except
the Hawaiian Islands.
There are absolutely no reasons
why the roads here should not be as
good as any in the world.
Politics and efficiency are absolute
strangers. To a successful construc.
tion man, organization and efficiency
stand last, first and always. A man
with the incipient political hookworm
in his system is a menace to any
city that wishes to progress, and the
competent road builder is easily
traced. i
Interference by competent man Is
considered a slur on his ability, and
will not be tolerated, and until such
time arrives where the head OF a.
department is considered political
joke only, you may feel assured that
the taxpayers are going to kiss their
dollars fond farewell.
A few months ago the federal civil
service held an examination for the
position of general superintendent on
construction. The papers were sent
to Washington for rating. OF the
many that took the examination, at
least IL passed and two or three re-
ceived a rating of over 80 per cent.
The papers we're rated by board
which was impartial.
Why cannot our board Of super.
visors do likewise?
Importance should be attached to
aptitude, ability. previous experience
and integrity. ~
Forget theory and remember that
practical experience is what counts.
A technical knowledge Is an excel
lent thing, but they, don't build roads
in colleges. The ability to size up
the situation, organize an efficient
and competent force, keep down costs,
and produce the goods means success
Politics and technicalities have ruined
many a good man. YouNdon't need
slide rule or adding machine only for
office work. Because a man carries a
blue print around in his hip pocket
it is no sign that he printing press,
and because man has the support
of few politicians don't think he is
an engineer. There is reason. The
root is loot.