The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-02-08
EXPERT WILL MAKE I
INVESTIGATION OF ]
WATER RESOURCES
Geological Survey Ready TO Loan
Scientist To- City Provided
Money For Expenses Raised
Urgent Recommendation Made
BY Special Committee With
View Of Relieving Stringency !

I6sfiSU " HSHSNHl8 SuHiHOlSJ 81;
i A thorough Investigation Of the wa.
ter resources of the city of Honolulu'
and of the possibility of developing
new sources Of supply is to be made
by an expert Of che United States Geo.
logical Survey, provided the sum Of
1880 IL raised by the city to pay the
expenses Of such an investigation.
Such Is the promise Of the geologi-
cal survey as contained in communi-
cation received here, nd,with n view
of obtaining the services Of the ex!
pert for the greatly needed work, an
urgent recommendation has been made
CO.. the chamber Of commeree, by a
special committee Of that body that
the needed $500 be raised. ., K. .,.i y
| The special committee signing the
Recommendation consists of ], X. Gait,
James T. Taylor and A. L. Castle. The
lcommittee specifies the selection Of
Prof. H! Il. Gregory, who was in Ho.
nolulu recently and delivered several
lectures on technical subjects while in
the Islands There is good reason to
lbelleve that the services of Professor
Gregory be obtained. ~
Supply II Inadequate 49,.
II has been recognized for some time
that, the present water supply Of the
Ieityais entirely inadequate for present
needs, and as the city is growing rapid!
ly,i the ihadeqnaey of the supply Ia
becoming more marked every year. The
seriousness Of the situation became
particularly noticeable last summer,
when for q time certain sections of the
lefty were almost without water for
domestic purposes. .GEsi
Partial and preliminary investiga,
lions into the possibility of Increasing
the water supply of the city have been
made; but these do not yet furnish
sufficient data upon which intelligent
work and. Ne0mprehensive plan may
be based The preliminary, investiga
tions, however, have gone far enough
to show that there are plentiful water
resources which are capable Of develop.
ment.
Il Nearly three years ago a commission
was appointed to investigate the water
supply conditions of the city and make
recommendations as to probable sources
tor securing adequate increases in the
supply. The commission, composed of
fG Al Thurston, chairman; Jorgen Jor.
| gensen, James Glib, Charles X. Forbes
and John H. Wilson, rendered an ex-
haustiye preliminary report last June,
but no action has thus far been taken
by the city government. The chamber
Iof commerce, however, did take the
matter up last FAN!
Preliminary Report
In its preliminary report the com
mission advised that in securing new
sources the city officials should take
Into consideration the question of Sc.
curing a. flow or supply of water com.
mensurate with the cost of it.
Two methods Of securing water were
considered. One was the impounding
bfy water on this side of the mountains,
and the other boring, or tunneling
through the mountains One point of
supply, by tunneling; was suggested as
in Kalihi, another in Palolo.
f. The Advertiser published on Octo.
bera s, q resume of the report of the
Icommittse., On October IL the chamber
took steps looking toward securing
from the geological survey q water ex'
pert to make comprehensive inves-
tigatiOn' of the wafer resources of the
Island. At that time. a special com.
mittee, of, the chamber addressed let
ter to the director of the geological
survey. in Washington, calling .atten.
ton to the lack of an adequate water
supply in Honolulu.
Three Questions
h The committee asked three questions
of the department., as follows:
|f whether you can aid us,
III so, how soon and in what way I
-" Also, whether financial assistance
will be needed from Honolulu, and If
so, how muchfo
. To this communication Phlip s.
Smith, acting director Of the depart,
nsnt, under date Of November IA re-
piled that the matter. had been fully
discussed at his department with Pro-
fessor Gregory and Lorrin A. Thurston,
both Of whom had called upon the
director and other officers.
Mr.. Smith said he appreciated fully
the Importance of a thorough investiga-
.tion for the purpose of leading to prac-
teal results in increasing, the water
supply Of Honolulu, and assured the
committee the department could be
depended upon to do all that lay in its
power. 5r~l g.. =
Amount Required
"It is estimated that about $1,000
would be required for an investigation
covering about one year. If you can
provide the necessary finances the, Geo
logical Survey will do all that is posi- {.
bic to provide a competent geologist
and to give thorough, supervision with
a view to obtaining dependable and
valuable technical, results"
[ The committee explains that the final
report Of the United States Geological
Survey, shows within a given area
| What water can, be obtained;
Approximately in what quantity;
a. Approximately, at what cost.
+. The municipality, further explaiRs
the chamber committee, which has in its
possession the, above data, in detail, is
in a position to 60 ahead, at any time
to secure the water supply. either in
part, or III whole, knowing for Ger
tainty that. it can rely upon the rec
port of the geological survey depart
meit. -. -,
The. committee adds that it knows
that Professor Gregory has already
been asked by the department if he
will take charge of this work, and al,
ready Influences are being brought to
bear to try aud induce Yale Univcr
sity to permit Professor GREGORY 70