Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-22
DETAILED REPLY TO PIER PROBERS
MADE BY FORBES TO HARBOR BOARD


the tables quoted Ey the committee.
The Rats Issue
Paragraph IL: Being without good
and sufficient engineering reasons and
having the commendable faculty OF
applying the historic motto Don't give
up the ship" our committee now
attacks the ChairEan's recommen-
dations from he standpoint OF public
health. That is t. say, Rats" !
would be glad II these gentlemen
would advise me as to how these rats
are going under the wharf after it is
completed and with the concrete paw.
ing slab in place and all openings
closed with suitable gratings. can
assure you that this office will take
such measures as will prevent their
going there before it is completed.
Paragraphs - and 10. fully agree
with the gentlemen of the committee
that they show no desire to enter
into any controversy ON questions Of
engineering AMI can fully appreciate
the position in which they find them
selves, and would suggest that in the
future they Calmly and dispassionate-
Weigh Vi 6CHciHO
before they proceed to attack it.
Paragraphs II and Is: In regard
to the weight of submerged material
| will say that through lack OF definite
data our preliminary calculations were
made with the assumption Of a weight
of 100 lbs submerged less the buoy
anCy of the water This has now how
ever, been corrected by data secured
from experiments which are now be-
ing made. .
Our experiments so far show the
average weight of this submerged fill
to be approximately 40 lbs. and these
experiments will be continued until
absolutely definite results are obtain.
ed. Our computations have been re.
viewed and re-checsed several times
using the. new values together with
additional data secured from research
and we make no appreciable change
in our primary results. - p 70 .,
AS to the table quoted, 1t is not
worthy of attention as the data given
deals with materials and conditions
applicable at New York, which even
the gentlemen of the committee must
allow are radically different from ma
terials and conditions in the Hawaiian
Islands. - -
Paragraphs Is and II: One can
readily understand the solicitude Of
these gentlemen as *citizens and tax
payers" in safeguarding the territory's
finances especially when the magni-
.tude of their fee for services (?) rend-
dered is considered as we'll as the
promptitude with which it was col
lected e.. - '.= e..
As the committee of investigators
has manifestedly falled to prove any
of their assertions by legitimate tech
meal data and as their criticism OF
myself is purely personal, dislike TO
spare the time to make any answer TO.
the statements of this paragraph i
will, however, say that rarely is an
engineering project of this class and
magnitude undertaken without there
being found, before its completion, a
necessity t. change, and often radical
ly, the design and methods agreed
upon at its inception; and he Is narrow
minded and bigoted. indeed, who fails
to recognize the necessity for, such a
change wnen 1t becomes apparent and
to act ON 1t when necessary. 49,. ..n+~s.
sAs to my personal qualifications to
perform my duties: feel that these
gentlemen have of themselves offered
the best of prof that they at least
are not qualified to judge. will, how
ever, if the Board so desires, submit
to you certain incontestable facts bear
ing on the opinion of men who are
qualified to Judge in such matters.
These gentlemen would attempt to
conyey the impression that your chair
man is engaged in the design of all
structures coming within the juris.
diction of the Board of Harbor Com
missioners. Nothing can be more er
roneous. Your chairman has never
attempted the design of any of the
structures now underway or proposed,
but simply presides IS the Board of
Harbor Commissioners chairman and
executive officer whose duty is to
oversee the work. Competent engin-
GERS are responsible lor the work, and
| have no hesitancy in stating that the
men employed ny this department are
better able through years of theoreti-
cal and practical experience to pass
judgment on this structure now before
you. ~.
! There is no intimation in any of
these reports Ey this committee that
the contractor is in any way respon-
sible for what they consider a de.
pIorable condition The statement
that such a condition exists is I'M
and without mathematical cal
culations to subs ant;ate the charge.
Stands Behind Statement
Paragraph Is: In regard to the es-
Inmates of the committee Of engineers
On the anchorage as they recommend
It. will state that this office abso-
Iutely and definitely stands behind
the statements made in our previous
4 -. - 4