The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-01-10
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. I 10

A4-6- L--7~ 6A- 80 @IA
ing capital. The history u nearly every such
undertaking has ben one Of continued reyerse=,
against which the origina;5rs. unable TO con-
tend. have been compelled TO retire. but only
after submitting % losses and sacrifices. which
IN many cases have Led - the abandonment OF
all Eooe oF future success IN any business enter
pri=@- IN this kingdom, and q Consequent with
drzwaI Of their labor and means 70 other more
favored countries, while in some instances pre-
mature disaas- and death have been the result
Of such reverse.
We need not here enunerate the several sugar
enterprises which have never yielded = dollar Of
profit 70 their originatOTs, or attempt u calcu-
late the hundreds Of Thousands u dollars sunk
IN eforts 70 deyelope industry by their means.
Each Of our islands bears the proof Of such re-
vsrses, not only IN It's plantations, but IN the
various attempts 70 establish farms and fruit
ranches. Perhaps. We ought % view all these
reyeTse- a. political economists would Tiew
them-as necessary evils towards the deyelJpe-
ment Of ultimate gOOd-as experiments which
in the natural order Of things must be made
- - 1~-@- L-F--a ~arirel ran - srrA~-a5
70 return it percentage, OF industry receive its
PrDPDrtiJnate reward. We believe il J. tue in
all countries that the pioneers in every branch
"a t@A1%A 49, AN- AAF gAE7 Al IElN the DFI4E-
fit Of their labors. Why, then. should We expect
here any exception TO the general rule? Wear
NJ wiser OF smarter or more shrewd than pio-
neeFs in older countries, albeit We may think a
good deal Of our gristle and bone.
It may not be amiss here to give q brief sketch
Of the Honolulu Flour Mil. Some ten years
since, 1t having been found that good merchant
able wheat could be raised on East Maui, a plan
VS. -; in foot 70 introduce u mill building with
the requisite machinery for grinding -four. The
means having been furnished in 1852 by Mr..
Geo ID. Cover, who at that time was Collector
at Lahains, and Nh. II. j. G. C-Jswell Of Ma
kawao, d mill building and It's machinery was
purchased in Boston IN the spring Of 1853, and
shipped by the ship Judge ShGU and bark Krenl-
In which arrived at this port during the fall Of
that year. Two experienced millers and wheel
wrights came out % erect the building and SUI
P%eFintend the manufacture Of four. 1t was the
original design TO have located the mill Ut Wal
luku on Mani, and driven by water-power, and
for that purpose u water vince and connecting
machinery were imported. But before its ar
rival, this plan was changed, and It's was decided
to erect the mill in Honolulu, and a company
was found to carry on the business, with a capi-
tai OF $4,000. This company consisted, be-
sides the gentlemen named above, of R.. Arm
strong, D.. VI. Weston, \. G.. Thurston. j. Har-
dy, \. K. Clark, o. II. Gulick, j. ;. Van Ingen
and II. NJ. Whitney.
During the fall of 1853, the mill was COM
Pleted at an expense of about 20, 900, (not in
any outlay for the foundry and engine,)
and the grinding Of wheat commenced. the farmers
Of East Maui having been encouraged to plant
N .ursoir.,,,r Il -. o-u-.I.:-- e " ~
The fret -four produced was not equal in white
ness or quality to the imported article, and
against its use considerable prejudice existed
during the Hrst year or TWO. In It, sale, the
mill company had to contend against large i'm
pOrtations both from California and Boston, and
Notwithstanding the fact that it was produced at
much less cost and offered at u much lower
igure than imported -four, the stock accumula-
largely.
\ high price was paid for wheat. during the
two years, and most Of the crop was pur-
chased at from two TO three cents per pound. ac-
70 quality. This stimulated the produc-
of the grain beyond the ability Of the COM
ANY to dispose Of the flour, and the price of
wheat rcceded in the following years to lie. and
till later TO lie. per pound. Besides the une-
competition which the mill company
lad to contend with in introducing the first Ha-
Eaiian -four in the market, other drawbacks and
l-iscOuragements were met. 1t was found next
o impossible TO exclude weayils from the grain
'ef1re being ground, or from the -four after
wards. The facilities for getting the wheat down
rom Kahului were then poor compared with
alter years, and frequently large quantities were
uined by the rain and these insects before il
ould be got to the mill. In one instance we
emember of several thousand bushels being thus
and rendered worthless. There being
hen no bakery, to consume the -four, il was re-
uired % b. kept on hand often for eight and ten
lOnths before disposed Of. These and numerous
Their discouragements, which no prudence could
entirely Obviated at that time, involved the
ill Co. largely IN debt, and at the end Of three
ears its liabilities amounted to $50, 900. The
artners being responsible for the debts incurred,
Tisely concluded to stop at once, without incur
ing further risks, sell off their stock and close up
he enterprise as best they could. This took
}. IN the spring and unIner Of 1856, when
he first company sold its building and machinery
D a new company for the sum Of s. 500.
We have not at hand the figures to show the
mount of wheat purchased during the first three
ears that this enterprise was carried on, but the
mount Of money paid out for grain was, owing
!, the high price paid for wheat, upwards Of
90, 600. Unfortunate az was the termination
{ this first effort 70 produce within our Own
orders the staff % life required by our poTula-
on, the experiments which had been made were
: service 10 those who were TO continue the
lsincss. The new Hawaiian Flour Company
as organized in May. 1856, under a charter
ON the Hawaiian Legislature. and consisted of
yenty-nine shareholders, with a capital stock
$4,000. Having obtained the mill and
achinery az L low figure, they had the advan-
re Of a cash capital. to miner operations
as we'll a. an opening home market, for
N-L IL l. l.