Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-20
running NEW STREETS.

Editor Honolulu Star-Bullstln.
Sir: wonder II other citizens OF
Honolulu entertain q position in any
manner similar to mine on what
consider Is an abuse OF our new
streets and on What Is TO me an ap'
parent disregard for the possibility
that With a continuation Of the heavy
traffic which Is now using Beretanla
street. for instance, What is now
good road and a credit TO the city
may, sooner or later, again be IN de-
plorable condition.
There 10 hardly q morning in the
week but that heavily laden wagons,
hauling possibly from three TO five
tons OF rock, come onto Beretania
street by Punahou street after leav'
ing the beautiful pavement on the eX'
tension OF King street. Apparently
these wagons have loaded in the VI
entity OF Moiliili and the drivers seem
oent on using the very best street 70
get their loads into town. 1t occurs
to me that If these drivers, or the cor,
porations employing the drivers, each
or both, we're compelled by ordinance
to keep off OF certain streets with
heavy drayiug, that We will have ad
vGnced q step towards efficiency and
economy in government. 1t may pos.
sibly be said that government monies,
derived from taxation, contributed to
the building Of Beretania street and
that II would be unconstitutional to
attempt to deprive any resident OF its
use, Some may contend that 1t would
be unfair to attempt to deprive any
traffic Of the use OF any street. Bere
tania street was constructed under
the district improvement plan and was
paid for largely by property owners
within that district, In addition to
county monies; which paid the coun
tvs share, but irrespective Of techni
cal or legal rights. 1t seems there
might be suggested to those who in
siSt on sending heavy load Of stone
over the pavement, that II the traffic Is
allowed to continue, the pavement
will not only be spoiled to the future
use of the public generally, but spoiled
Ia some measure to the use Of even
their wagons and all would suffer
alike. The issue may have its legal
side, no doubt II has, but there is no
question In my mind but that there
should be recognized a moral side to
suggest pride in a good street and in
keeping it a good street.
take the position in all kindness,
approaching that the hauling Of stone
10 a legitimate business and must be
performed. but I cannot see why 1t Is
necessary that 1t should be performed
over the best streets In town. Many
Of the drivers are, by action, insolent.
They plant their wagons plumb in
the middle Of the pavement and will
not move an inch for anything, but
even that can be overlooked II it were
not for the fear that the heavy haul.
ing, a tractor with three or four heav-
lily laden trailers each tracking the
other, may sooner or later destroy
the pavement which we have finally
secured for Beretania street after a
wait OF many years.
Ala Moana is q dirt road and is
available and cannot be hurt by any
traffic. King street cannot be hurt
much for goodness knows 1t Is bad
and has been brought to it's present
condition, very largely, by the same
traffic that would now ruin Beretania
street. Now that King street is bad,
the drivers are bent on shifting to
Beretania street, so that that street
may be made equally as bad con-
slider the situation almost criminal
and am Informed by the city attor-
ney's department that there is no or.
dinance which will make it possible to
change the situation.
There is reason to feel that the
supervisors will appreciate the neces.
sity of some action which will at least
attempt to forbid the use of Beretanta
street, and similarly constructed
streets, to traffic OF a nature which
will injure the pavement If an ordin.
ance carrying such provision will not
stand q constitutional test. then let
something else be tried. My only OBJ
ject is to protect the streets. How
that may be accomplished is uncer.
tain. Only protect them.
RAYMOND c. BROWN.