The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-11-05
THE PACIFIC
Commercial AObettistr,
NO EMBER 5.
The Commercial Horizon and
Future of Honolulu.

uLNfc OI
In n recent number we gave the distances from
Honolulu to the principal ports of the Pacific.
and showed how centrally this port is situated
with regard to the main borders of this ocean,
and how lines drawn to the main ports radiate
from this centre like the spokes of a wheel.
The touching at this port during the last year
or two of a number of vessels from all parts of
the Pacific Ocean, on their voyage to various
places, shows that our central position in the
North Pacific and our good harbor are not i'm
aginary advantages, but are of real practical
benefit to US. and that as a port of call Honolulu
must become more frequented as the population
and commerce Of the surrounding countries in
crease. we seem to be in the way for sailing
vessels from San Francisco and Puget Sound to
China, from Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti
to San Francisco, from China to CalIao, and from
Puget Sound to Valparaiso. We pick up dis
abled vessels, also on their way from San Fran
cisco and Mexico to the United States and Europe.
Then Honolulu is the port of call for quite a feet
of guano vessels and last, though not least, it is
the rendezvous of our old friends the North
Pacific whaling feet. These vessels, added to the
regular traders engaged in supplying our wants,
and carrying away our produce, must make this
port one of yearly increasing Importance.
1t is hardly necessary to urge the necessity of
doing all in our power to take advantage of. this
central position, and to improve our oppor-
%tunities but it may not be out of place if we
offer a few suggestions for improvements con-
nected with our port and its commerce, which, if
not to be Immediately carried out, at least may
be worthy of an early consideration.
1t is pretty evident that Notwithstanding the
new wharves which have been built, we are get
ting cramped for wharf room, the extension Of
the wharves and flling up the reef to Fisher
mans Point seems to be required at once, which
improvement will no doubt include a new jetty
for the ocean steamers, with more room for stow
ing coal. The whaleships want more room also
for their oil.
A narrow gauge railway track, with the neces-
sary I" turn OUTS" sidings, &C., for horse cars
and wagons might, with advantage, be made all
round the wharyes from one end to the other, to
convey goods from coasters to foreign going yes
sells and vice versa and also to aid in transhipping
goods from one foreign vessel to another. We
would suggest also that this tramway be made
through the Point - property, by Act of Par
lament, if necessary. This water frontage wants
opening up to the public, and no doubt the i'm
proyement would, at the same time, be money in
the pockets of the owners.
We have often heard shipmasters complain of
the price of ballast here. This could be remedied
by a short railway to some location where stone
is plentiful, and connecting it with the track
round the wharyes. Cheap ballast means so
much of our inward freights, which is an impor-
tant item on heavy and bulky goods. Cheapness
is the soul of commercial prosperity. We want
to get everything cheap, to grow our sugar
cheaply and to make it cheaply, and SO compete
with other countries. We want to supply the
ships which visit us cheaply, and to live cheaply
ourselves. We may say also that we have heard
the price of water complained of. 1t docs not
always pay to get too much from our customers.
1t has been suggested that a large ~fre-proof
stone or brick building should be erected on the
Esplanade, where planters can, if they choose,
run in their sugars on arrival (by the ~tramway)
and get an advance on. them if desired, and
where they may keep them at a low rent for sale
or for an improvement in the neighboring mar
kets. Besides, it would be an advantage, now
that we have new markets opened up, to keep
some stock of sugars here to supply them as re-
quired. Planters would, we think, find that the
prices given would pay for a little delay, and it
would also assist the idea, which has often been
preached, of the advantage planters would derive
if they sold more of their sugar here, instead of
shipping it. We know that sugar, and probably
other produce, is often sent on board any ship
that is laid on, because the owners or agents
have nowhere else to put it. Commissions on
the sale of produce in Honolulu, we may remark,
seem too high. unless where heavy advances have
to be made. Planters often want to sell and
merchants to buy, but the desire of both is frus-
trated, and to the loss of both for want of a bet
ter system.
Our port charges and Custom House regula-
tions are generally reasonable and accommodating.
Custom House storage, however, seems much too
high, especially on liquors and ships stores.
The effect is often to force into consumption,
or at least to become duty paid, goods which
might be left in the Custom House,
and ultimately shipped off with advantage.
Valparaiso was wide awake when it allowed
Custom House storage six months free. 1t may