Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-11-20
PROGRAM
HURT BY BOND
SALES FAILURE
Only Half of Construction Con-
tempIated May Be Carried out
and Perhaps Not That Much

Disaster faces the program OF road
building for 1918 mapped out by the
city and county. and while less than
half of the amount Of road improve
nents planned for next year may be
carried out there is also a possibility
that circumstances may arise which
will prohibit any improvements at all
on Honolulu roads unless the business
and financial interest of this city buy
up the street Improvement bond is
sues, according to A. M. Cristy, depu-
ty city and county attorney.
Mr.. Cristy declares that If the future
bond issues for street improvements
meet the same financial fate as the
last two offered for sale, instead of
$500, 900 worth of road work being
done in 1918 in Honolulu less than half
of that amount may be spent, and be-
cause Of certain clauses in the front
age tax Improvement law the city may
not be able to carry out anySwork at
all in the way of improving much
travelled thoroughfares.
cit is certainly a serious condition
Of affairs" declared Mr.. Cristy, "and
unless the businessmen buEeup these
street improvement bonds, well-there
won't be any street improvements,
that's all. In fact the board of super
visors is to take it up at the next meet
ing to decide on future policy as re-
CARDS street improvements.
THE bond issues of the Smith street
and Hotel street permanent improve
ment work were offered for sale re.
Gently, and only one bid was received
for one of the issues, and that was be-
low par. The Beretania street i'm,
provement bonds will be forthcoming
soon, and If they meet the same fate
as did. the others the city and county
finances for 1918 will be caught with
big inroads from bills payable on 1917
work."
:. If this condition continues it means
that the city and county will be called
upon to finance all street improvement
work out of its own funds, with the
result that it will be able to do less
than half of the work contemplated.
"The street improvements at pres.
ent are carried out under the frontage
ax law, whereby the city finances 40
per cent of a project while the prop
erty owners pay the remainder in
taxes. The assessment on these new
improvements will not bring the cash
In quickly and the bond issue is the
only way for ready money to be had to
carry on the work started.
"If the bond issue meets with failure
then only 40 per cent of the project
can be financed. But if the work is to
be done the city must refrain from
starting on a second improvement
project and call in the money on that
second project to pay the balance on /
the first project. Hence instead of |
two projects being undertaken only
one can be done.
Under the street Improvement law
the businessmen are expected to |
finance the bond issue and stand back
OF the city and county Unless they |
do 1t the permanent Improvement of |
business section streets will be cut In |
half next year."
Mr.. Crfsty was asked if the L. L.
McCandless suit against the city in
regard to frontage tx improvement |
had hampered the sale of the bond is. |
sues, but refused to answer, saying the |
matter was still in court.
It hen again the question remains |
as to whether the city legally can
finance more than 40 per cent of a
permanent improvement project. That |
will have to be decided" concluded |
Mr.. Cristy, land IL it is decided that |
the city cannot finance more than 40 |
per cent Of a project there will be no
use in undertaking any street improve
ments at all until the bond issues are
sold" r. ....- 800.