The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-04-02
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY. APRIL ..
Intcr-IsInnd steam, Again.

Inter-IsInnd team, gain.
The Government organ returns to the subject
Of reftting the old steamer K7auea, and makes
some statements which demand notice. IL pub
fishes a table purporting to give the first ten
trips Of this vessel to Hilo and back, taken from
her record book. According to this statement,
the shortest was 81 days and the longest 81.
These figures must have been originally obtained
from the marine record of the official organ,
which is so proverbially incorrect that it has long
since been entirely ignored as unworthy of ere
dence. In q matter Of SO much consequence as
the triI4 of a steamer made ten years ago, correct
data are all-important.
Now by referring to the files of the ADVERTISER,
we find that the shortest trip of the K.lauea to
Hilo and back was Al days, and that the average
OF ten trips was fire days and a half, or more
correctly, five days and fourteen hours. This
was done when she was new-vessel, boiler and
machinery, all new and in the most perfect order.
Che ran well SO long rs she had the large marine
boiler originally put in her, often making, under
steam alone, ten knots an hour. If the boilers
which are now constructing work up to expecta-
ton, she may do as good service again. This re-
mains to he proved.
No doubt good skill and workmanship and a
heavy outlay of money can make the KiLauea
p~erfOrm-for a while at least-what is required
by the law. But Mt the best she will be an old
boat, with old machinery, for the Gazette assures
us that the old machinery is to be used, with
simply new boilers. Even with the most favora-
bic show that can be made, it now looks as though
the Government and people will have to pay
dearly for the luxury of steam, if the KiLauea is
tho only ctaaunar ~, h. o,,-Io.ol. #r
The Gazette says that 8 : favorable offers have
been made to the Government to supply COAL"
DC. There is nothing new in this announcement.
1t has had &" favorable offers - before, to supply
inter island steam service as well as coal. But the
trouble is, it never accepts the g favorable offers
made to it. And as its steamer may cost it
$40,O 0O the first year, where private parties will
to do the service for SO, 900 or $50, 600 so it's
coal will probably cost it $l2 to $50 a ton, when
private capital would obtain it at $40.
But these are not the only points to be taken
into consideration. Government, in thus en-
gaging in inter-island steam service, is doing all
it can to crush private enterprise, which, once
established, would do vastly more for the country
in this matter than Government. Private enter
prise should be encouraged rather than crowded
out. Take, for instance, the towing of vessels.
Here was a field for private capital, which was
being well performed, when Government, find
ing there was money to be made in it, built n
steam tug, " frozc out those who had started
the enterprise, and has since continued to per-
form this service. Were the towage and inter
island steam service awarded to private parties
on favorable terms, VIC should have steam sup
piled to US at less cost than Government can pos
sibly do it for.
The same principle applies to other branches of
business. Government should not engage in any
business which can be more cheaply performed
by private capital, whether it be running inter-
island steamers, towing vessels in and out the
harbOr, supplying the city with water, keeping a
Office, or importing water pipes and
other stock required for its use. Where all
can be done By open and fair contract
and as well, by merchants, capitalists or
mechanics, who are ever ready to increase their
business and perform the service at the lowest
possible rates, Government should keep within
its proper sphere, and encourage the industry of
it's citizens, instead of assuming an attitude an
tagonistic to them.