The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-06-12
STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH SAN
FRANCISCO.

I ciprOcity-the final accomplishment Of which we
consider az beyond question-is il not time that we
begin 10 consider SINE means Of regular, speedy,
safe and comfortable communication with the
principal Pacific port Of the United States?
When we received the intimatiOn that the China
line Of steamers would touch bere, and when we
we're finally made a port Of call for the steamers
Of the San Fmncisco and Australian line, we
,egan to think that the desired frequent and
regular communication was an accomplished fact;
and the Hawaiian Government, alive to the i'm
Portance Of that supposed fact, came promptly
forward and built wharves and warehouses with
cut stint. sufficient TO accommodate the largest
steamers thar Plow the Pacific. In addition, sto-
rage space was granted for coal, tramways were pro-
yided for lading and ~unlading cargo, water pri-
vileges were accorded, and every other facility
that could be wished for, free OF all charge,
including even the usual dues for lights and
buoys; and at one time a handsome subsidy was
paid from an impoverished public purse to assist
in The enterprise. And what has been the result?
Ii has been apparent that the freights between
San Francisco and Honolulu have been, on an
average, equal 70 the full spare capacity Of the
steamers employed, and this too Of vessels ranging
up 20 1890 tons measurement; and compared
with which the through freights between the
Colonies and San Francisco have been but a small
item Not infrequently, IN consequence Of the
large supply Of cOal carried through, the steamers
have been obliged, from want OF room, to reject
freight between San Francisco and Honolulu,
from both ports, giving preference to freight for
the terminal ports. Then also the preference
given to the steamers by our shippers has driven
from the route all but one Of our regular sailing
packets, and we have % trust 10 chance and out
eide sailing vessels for the remainder Of our
freighting business. Once, we had a regular line
Of well-apPointed packets between the two ports,
and we could foretell almost to e certainty
within a very few days-as to when we could
either send forward our produce or have our San
francisco orders filed and receive our mails.
And when business or pleasure prompted US to
/ go and come, large and comfortable state-rooms,
clean cabins, and timely notice Of the day Of
sailing were ours. Nor was the average time
consumed on the passages 30 bad, after all-say
from San Francisco 10 Honolulu twelve days, and
fifteen the other way. II is true, we now get
our mails On schedule time-or else We give them
the credit Of being showed in along with the
overland mail from England for the Colonies. and
sit down and patiently await their coming. How
ever, whether on ;ime or not, they are always
managed so as to arrive three or four days after
the steamer from Australia has departed for the
East, instead of a few days before thus requir-
ing US to wait for chance or the steamer of the
following month before we can advise our Cali.
iornia friends Of the safe arrival Of their consign-
ments or Of the health of those who have made
the voyage. When the steamer does arrive, she
is in such haste 10 get of again that our freight
is tumbled out upon the wharf very unceremo-
niously and all Of a heap, tins Of crackers, boxes
Of glass and bags of -four all receiving that spe-
cies Of attention that brings to mind the cele-
bnted " baggage smashers" OF the overland
route. Nor does our list of grievances end here.
Suppose that one Of our residents desires to go
to the coast for business or pleasure, and proposes
to take his wife and family with HIM. The time
table is consulted, and it is thoroughly understood
that on Thursday the up steamer will be due. The
agents, who are enterprising and energetic bust
ness men, have all their arrangements made in
advance rs far as cargo is concerned, and they
-propose-proyided the steamer has any room to
spare-tO place the freight on board as speedily
as possible, and have no unnecessary detention in
port. But when 1t comes to booking you for n
passage, they shake their heads and will only
pIOultc 70 10 the Dt1k tucJ III iE YOU. Iuc
steamer comes inf it happens to be the fast
one, she is day a head Of time, and if one Of the
other kind she comes poking along next Sunday
morning, and wants to get away about midnight.
Well, in cases Of emergency you can stand a
little night work but when you begin to talk
about n state-rOom, il dwindles down to a choice
between a 81 shake-down" under the saloon table,
the corner Of a spare boat, or a shelf in the
smokestack. Who cares to travel with his fam
lily under these circumstances? A partial remedy
it is true, has suggested itself lately. When the
pilot-boat goes OF 10 the steamer from Australia,
it Is freighted with offers Of n handsome bonus
to the captain and mates for the use of their
state-rooms for the passage of nine or ten days
to San Francisco. not infrequently as high as
500 being paid for such privilege. In an emer-
gency, this may be put up with, but as a general
rule il is rather hard, and would require serious
consideration on the part of those desiring to
travel.
What, in reality, are We getting in return for
oil the favors bestowed on these steamers? Does
it not seem, when we come to look at it, as though
8 all the meat was in their dish and all the bones
in ours?-' For as to the bOasted benefits which
were 10 accrue to us from the passengers in tran
situ-asIde from an hours ride in our environs,
the purchase Of a few curios, and fruit, and per-
haps a meal at our hOtel-they benefit us moth
ing, for they have not the time. The ships carry
Goals and stores to last them through, and in
that line they literally want nothing of us; IN
fact il would seem as though the steamer people
actually feel that the honor of their brief visits
is a full return for all the facilities and privileges
we grant them. The fact is that the granting OF
all those privileges has bad a tendency to the de-
triment of our working classes, by the saving of
labor in lading and u~nlading cargo, and has al
most destroyed the business of our draymen.
Thus, to benefit the steamers which benefit US so
nuesdonablE. We have worked an injury to a