The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-11-06

Of the line. Without making a monopoly, an annual
grant by this Government of $1,000 to any company
which would introduce two or three suitable steamers
and sustain them in compliance with certain pro-
visions. would be far cheaper than for it to undertake
the work itself. Such a bonus might be discontinued
whenever the line of steamers becomes profitable to
it's owners.
We doubt whether private capital here at the
islands can ever be brought to establish a steam line
among the group. Capital is too limited, anu con-
mands too high a premium to be withdrawn from
other channels, for so great an outlay as this woutd
require. Our only hope then is to induce foreign
capitalists to embark IN the enterprise. There can be
no doubt that a company with abundant means to
procure suitable Uessels, and to establish them in the
trade, would after the first twelve months receive a
handsome return on their investment. We have good
grounds for this belief in the fact that the steamer
West Point, poor as she was, was building up a
profitable trade at the time she was lost. She ran
mostly to Kauai, and averaged q trip each week, her
receipts being about double her expenses, while on
her last trip, in which she was wrecked, her receipts
would have been four times her expenses. A faster
and more commodious vessel would do a much better
business.
But achat kind of vessels are wanted !? This is per-
haps the most important question connected with the
subject of inter-island navigation, and one on which
there is difference of opinion. Some hold that side
wheel boats are the only kind that will answer, but
others, competent engineers, think %propellers would
be found best. For large vessels and ocean steam
ships there can be no doubt that side wheels are the
most reliable; but for smaller vessels, especially where
rugged with spars and sails Ca convenience, if not a
necessity in the island trade) propellers have been
found less expensive and less liable to damage. The
Size needed is from $50 to $50 tons measurement. A
vessel of larger tonnage would be found too expensive.
There is a class of English p%ropelers of about the
above sizes, running as coasters between England
and the European ports, rugged with schooner or brig
rig, which are used in the rough channels, and which
would probably be serviceable here where the trade
wind blows steadily for eight or nine months, and can
generally be relied on in passages from East to West.
A merchant, speaking the other day about steam
ers, suggested that the g%un-boats in the English
navy, a large number of which have recently been
built, might be found adapted as coasters here. 1t is
quite likely, now that the war is ended, an applica-
ton from this Government to purchas Sc one or two of
them at cost would be acceded to. They have these
good qualities-that they are strongly built, and fit
ted with powerful engines but whether their capa-
cities for freight and passengers could be adapted to
our wants is another question. We suppose their
cost, aside from their armament, is not far from "a 900
to $4,000 each, as they are built plain and for SER
vice only.
In conclusion, we would state for the benefit of any
parties who might feel an interest in the matter, that
no steam vessel should be sent here that is not fully
adapted to the trade, and pronounced so by those who
have been here and know the wants of the Islands.
We are informed that there are parties in New York
who are anxious to establish steamers here. We
know of no one abroad who is so fully conversant
with this subject, or in whose Judgment we should
place greater confidence than VIM. A. Lighthall, ESQ.,,
now connected with the Vanderbilt Line in New York,
who was formerly in the employ of the Hawaiian
Steam Navigation Company, and who proved himself
a complete master of his business, and a skillful,
practical engineer. A vessel built for the trade
should be q propeller, that comes as near a clipper
brig or large schooner as possible in her build, rig,
and sea-going qualities, capable of steanring eight to
ten knots an hour, and adapted to burning coal or
wood as required. She should furnish good dry
for 100 tons freight, worth So or SIS per ton,
capacity for carrying so head of cattle, at 81 per
head, with good cabin accommodations for twenty to
passengers, at SIS to $40 each, according
to distance, and one hundred native deck passengers.
at 81 to So each. Two such steamers, well man
aged, making weekly trips each way from Honolulu,
would be found to pay a profit and largely increase
the trade and travel. Instead Of conflicting with the
coasters now IHemploy they would be a real benefit
to them Embarrassing the commerce and travel in the
klngd0pa. and affording to agriculturists and planters
greater facilities for getting their produce to market.
fNCLIPPER RACE TO THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. Be-
tween San Francisco and Honolulu there has piled
for a long time a class of very fast vessels, Justly