Hawaii's First Artesian Well Traditional Cache
the_geocaching_ohana: Time to let this one go [:(]
Hawaii's First Artesian Well
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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In 1879, cattle rancher James Campbell brought in James Ashley, a well-driller, to search for water on the plains of Ewa. After drilling several hundred feet down, they discovered a vast underground source of pure, fresh water. Within 10 years, a series of artesian wells were drilled within the Honolulu city limits. By 1888, artesian water was supplying most of Honolulu's needs.
This discovery led to a water boom on the island, as ranchers and plantation developers began drilling furiously for more of the precious resource. Within 20 years, the boom came to a bust. Artesian wells, abandoned and neglected, wasted millions of gallons of water. By the turn of the century, Oahu suffered a water panic. Wells were salting up. Water levels were dropping. The problem was that the system had grown too much, too fast and too haphazardly. There was a complete lack of long-range planning. Because of the absence of a united reliable water system, fire protection was minimal and the threat of disease in the water was constant.
When drought hit the city in 1891 and again in 1894, plans were formulated for the installation of the first units of the present pumping station at Beretania and Alapai Streets.
Before the fall of the Monarchy in 1893, the Minister of the Interior of Hawaii was responsible for Honolulu's Water Works. After Hawaii became a Territory, the water system became a department under the Superintendent of Public Works of the Territory of Hawaii.
An interesting note: The rock and plaque have been moved at least a couple of times. The original site was in the middle of old Fort Weaver Road. The newer, straighter, improved road was built nearby and also named Fort Weaver Road. The original Fort Weaver Road, and the plaque, were abandoned. Someone later pried the copper plaque off the rock and stole it. Campbell Estate remade the plaque and moved the re-plaqued stone closer to the new highway.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
haqre, oruvaq fznyy juvgr ebpx
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