The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-05-16
The Snb.idy Aguin.

Mr.. EDIroR I'll beg t. make some remarks upon
this topic now before the public. The AdrerSSer
favors the subsidy. The Gazette says that the
majority of the merchants before the Committee Of
the Legislature favors ii. think that n large ma
jority of those having the o~uttcard freight to pay
and as. much inward freight in proportion, do not
favor it. l think that very few of the planters. or
their agents. excepting Hackfeld, * CO., favor il;
and it is saying nothing against that house to say
that they cannot be disinterested in this matter.
Others who are opposed to the measure may be,
and doubtless are, influenced more or less by per-
sonal considerations, but if so, they are the major
ity, and they have the bills TO pay without any
commission as an offsett. rs Hackfeld, * Co.. have.
Without any Reciprocity Treaty with the United
States the outward freight of Island products Tor
the next two years, may be estimated at 5000
tons. and 1000. 600 gallons of molasses. This can
be carried by barks at five dollars per ton. and
three cents per gallon for molasses. making Sl55.-
600. By the steamer at Sc per ton and 4 cents per
gallon for molasses. it amounts TO $780, 900 or $685.
900 more freight for the producers, chiefly planters,
to pay by steamer than sailing vessels, and this
does not take into account the large amount of
merchandise from the coast, for which the steamer
can charge without any limit-probably about SIS
per ton will be charged. Amy less sum would not
be likely to induce a combination against the
steamer. But it is to be noted that as the one
steamer will carry about one-half of the above
freight. the above figures represent a greater sum
than the actual loss to the producers. This may be
estimated, on the above basis. and Including the
ia,cdrd freight, at about 100000 from exporters and
importers besides the subsidy, and provided the
price of freight do not exceed the limits stated.
Bnt besides the advance of passage from $50 to
SO will not be a small item of loss to the country;
for whilst the steamer may receive as much money
at less expenses, there will be less travelling and
less expenditure of money by travellers in the
country. Besides this. we now have. 1 should
judge, (but may be wrong.) arrivals of sailing
vessels with freight and seeking return freight, as
often as once in 10 days. which, with the steamers
arrival once in sc days. gives us three arrivals in
Sc days, or one upon an average in each IL days.
If the subsidy passes and n second steamer is put
upon the route. the two will bring dozen all the
freight and orr mails will be reduced to one in
each 81 days. instead of receiving them once in
each I2 days. rs now. Our freight and mails must
wait there, on an average, nine days longer than
notc. From here to the Coast it will not be quite
so bad, as lumber vessels will often want return
cargo to San Francisco, but upon the whole it
appears to me it will be u great loss Ito say moth
ing of the Subsidy of interest, instead of gain. also
of storage on both ends of the route by increased
delay and if il be true, as il is said, that the steamer
Is not adapted for the carriage of fruits. we shall
lose what fruit trade we have. for the class of YES
sells which now carry our fruits will be driven from
the route.
| know on this point that the testimony before
the Committee was conflicting. but l am well as
sured that some of those residing here, who have
been in the habit of shipping by sailing vessels,
having tried the steamer, have experienced loss,
and have again returned to the sailing vessels.
This corresponds with what l have heard about the
West Indian fresh-fruit trade, to wit. that steamers
were not found adapted TO il. and that it was al
most wholly carried on the schooners.
II is claimed that these losses will be more than
balanced by the increased business in all depart
nents of labor.
| wish | could so see it. but / cannot. The av-
eragc passage OF sailing vessels from San Fran
cisco is 10 days-of the steamer l2-whilst orr
goods, mails and rcmittances must often wait eight
Or nine days longer at San Francisco than by the
present facilities. counterbalancing a large part OF
The interest said to be gained by the briefcr pas
sagcs of the steamer 10 san Francisco. Again.
here is IA liability of detention of produce here for
several days more than at present, thus adding
oss of time and expense of storage, after, at each
md Of the route, besides the additional direct
;harges upon freight and postage beyond that to
which we are now subjected. The China line will
.lso Toe less likely to touch here il this arrangement
5 made, for it would he chiefly deprived of the pas
cngcrs which ii might otherwise bring to Homo
ulu. The subsidy itself spread over Eity years,
to about an average of $4,000 per year,
would not be much felt, but having weighed the
iubjcct as impartially as | could do in view OF the
orcgoing probable results, | cannot GO for it.
A MERCHANT.