KAHULUI AND NAWILIWILI HARBORS, HAWAII.

COMMITTEE ON RIVERS AND HARBORS,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., December 16, 1915. The committee assembled at 10.15 o'clock a. m., Hon. Stephen M. Sparkman (chairman) presiding.

The CHAIRMAN. We have met this morning, gentlemen, first, for the purpose of getting acquainted with each other and, second, to hear the Delegate from Hawaii, Mr. J. Kalanianaole, and such others as might desire to present to the committee their views on one or two projects in those islands. Mr. Kalanianaole, we will be glad to hear from you.

Mr. KALANIANAOLE. I have two bills here, Mr. Chairman, that I would like to ask the committee to allow Mr. Forbes to discuss. Mr. Forbes is the commissioner of public works in the Territory and is also the chairman of the territorial harbor commission, and being intimately acquainted with the harbor work I believe that he can give much valuable information concerning the need for harbor improvements in Hawaii. Gentlemen, Mr. Forbes.

STATEMENT OF MR. CHARLES R. FORBES, SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, TERRITORY OF HAWAII.

Mr. FORBES. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am superintendent of the board of public works in the Territory of Hawaii, chairman of the harbors commission, and chairman of the public utilities commission.

For some time past we have been working for harbor improvements in the Territory and have undertaken and in a great measure completed several projects throughout the islands. The proposed improvements to be discussed and contemplated are on Kauai, at the port of Nawiliwili, and Kahului, on the island of Maui. At Kahului is a breakwater known as the East breakwater and constructed by the Kahului Railroad in part, the Federal Government completing the project, with the understanding that the Kahului Railroad Co. deed to the Federal Government such improvements as they had made in the way of a breakwater. The railroad spent $37,645 on the first unit of this breakwater.

The west breakwater is the proposed improvement and is the one recommended by the United States Army engineers. This improvement is absolutely necessary for the safety of vessels lying in Kahului. Frequently it has occurred when vessels of the AmericanHawaiian Steamship Co., the Matson Steam Navigation Co., and lumber-laden vessels have had to get up anchor and go to sea vessels have gone ashore when they were unable to get out in time. The

commerce of Maui, both in receipts and shipments, has increased materially, and the largest plantation in the Territory, producing some 60,000 to 70,000 tons of sugar annually, is located there. All of this sugar is lightered out to vessels-a slow and frequently dangerous procedure. The board of harbor commissioners have in mind the purchase of the railroad wharf and its reconstruction upon the completion of the west breakwater. But it would be unwise at this time to build, purchase, or reconstruct a wharf there until the proposed project has been developed. It is necessary from time to time to dredge the Kahului Harbor, which work is now being done by the Federal Government and by private individuals, that they might have their freight lightered out to vessels. The only vessels using the wharf at Kahului are the small vessels of the Inter-Islands Steam Navigation Co., whose draft are about 15 feet. If we had a larger wharf at Kahului at the present time it would be unsafe for a larger vessel to attempt going alongside while we are without the protection of the west breakwater. If any of you gentlemen have ever been in the vicinity of Kahului you know that at times it is very treacherous and dangerous. As I stated before, small Inter-Island vessels discharge their passengers and cargo at this wharf, but the larger ships must discharge both passengers and freight in practically an open roadstead. This is not always with any marked degree of safety.

Mr. HUMPHREYS of Mississippi. May I ask you a question about that tonnage you speak of there? That is principally sugar, is it not? Mr. FORBES. Yes; it is principally sugar-outgoing.

Mr. HUMPHREYS of Mississippi. Where is it shipped to?
Mr. FORBES. San Francisco and New York.

Mr. HUMPHREYS of Mississippi. It is all interstate commerce, then?

Mr. FORBES. It is. We have also opened up a considerable area of lands to homestead entry through the Makawao and Haiku section and the Government is considering the opening of additional areas, the greater part of which will be under pineapple cultivation. These pines will add greatly to our commerce from Maui. Some portions will be planted in cane. In fact, throughout the Territory within the next few years there will be open to homestead entry some 60.000 acres of land that will be taken up by homesteaders, and who will in all probability develop further the pineapple and cane industry, which must necessarily add many thousand tons to our present exports.

The CHAIRMAN. I notice that the commerce there has not increased to any great extent in the last few years.

Mr. FORBES. The commerce has increased here. Mr. Chairman, in some of our islands, but for a time when the tariff was under discussion perhaps some of our smaller plantations did not replant but only harvested their ratoon crop.

The CHAIRMAN. But the tonnage of the commerce as a whole seems to have remained about stationary; it is a little less than it was last year and even a little less than year before last.

Mr. FORBES. The war has had a material effect on our exports. Some of the vessels plying between San Francisco and Honolulu and San Francisco and Australia were not operating for some time,

and on account of two slides in the Panama Canal we likewise suffered a loss of commerce. And a decrease in our commerce was

only for the time being.

The CHAIRMAN. I thought you said most of the sugar, perhaps all of it, went to California?

Mr. FORBES. Yes; most of it does go to California-some of it through the Panama Canal and occasionally sailing vessels take it around the Horn.

The CHAIRMAN. But the canal was mostly used within the last year, was it not?

Mr. FORBES. The greater part of the year.

The CHAIRMAN. That is, the fiscal year ending the 30th of June? Mr. FORBES. Yes; a goodly part of the year. There was a short period when the canal was not used, and at the present time we have a very great deal of tonnage en route through the canal and via Cape Horn.

The CHAIRMAN. Well, the commerce is about the same as it was the previous year-that is, the tonnage? But the valuation as given in the reports has increased a good deal. Why is that, in your opinion?

Mr. FORBES. Our sugar valuation has increased materially since the European hostilities and we have been more productive in other commodities. This year Hawaii will ship approximately 65,000,000 cans of pineapples, a big increase over our exports in the past. Moreover, our pineapple industry is still in its infancy and much of our homestead lands will be developed by pineapple cultivation. The project you have before you will materially help and encourage the cultivation of our unimproved lands.

The CHAIRMAN. Then your object now, Mr. Forbes, is to impress the committee with the importance of that westerly breakwater? Mr. FORBES. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. That is a new project.

Mr. FORBES. This is a new project, Mr. Chairman, but has been discussed for several years and approved by United States Army engineers.

The CHAIRMAN. It is necessary, you say, and I believe the report so states, to build that westerly breakwater in order to prevent the shoal inside?

Mr. FORBES. Yes, in order to prevent the shoal inside and in order that vessels might lie with a greater degree of safety within the basin. There is absolutely no protection whatsoever from the west. The CHAIRMAN. There is a drift that comes from the shore line, is there?

Mr. FORBES. There is a drift there along the entire Kahului and Wailuku shore line. Soundings I have personally taken in Kahului harbor have varied each time, showing a difference of from 1 to 4 feet. The Kahului Railroad Co. has requested the Territorial board of harbor commissioners to dredge the vicinity of the present wharf, and any dredging inside the bulkhead line as established by the United States Army engineers must be performed by the Territorial government.

The CHAIRMAN. Well, that drift-it is solely from that that your difficulties and dangers arise, is it not?