Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-03-12

VERY important question was opened at a
meeting held at the Finance Office on Tuesday
at IL A. NJ. Among those present were the
Ministers, steamship owners and prominent
shipwrights of the city, and heads of large
mercantile houses interested in the transport
of goods, either foreign or inter-isand Mr..
Crandall attended with plans and sections of
the proposed marine railway which he has
prepared. From the conversation which en-
sued we gather, first, that it is the unanimous
opinion of all concerned that some sort of
dock or slip is a necessity forthis port; secondly
that neither floating dock or craving dock is
practicable, or at all events suitable, as the
former must occupy the best of the deep
water portion of the harbor, and the latter
would be extravagantly expensive in original
outlay and in working when called on. Thus
far the question resolved itself into marine
railway or nothing.
Mr.. Wilder instanced the LikeiiI:', which in
case of accident could not he hove down here,
but might have to be sent to San Francisco at
enormous direct cost to her owners, to say
nothing os the loss of two months earnings,
and two months loss of transit onvenienccs to
the public and business facilities. The Lehuu
needs repairs which by the marine railway
might be effected in one day and for moderate
outlay, whereas by the only alternative, heav-
ing down, from fourteen to fifteen times the ex-
penditure of both money and time would have
to be incurred.
Mr. Foster was of opinion that some such
convenient means of repair was imperatvely
necessary, and pointed out that our coasting
fleet would use the railway, not only for re-
pairs resulting from accident, such as ground
ing or other risks of navigation, but that
every coaster would make use of such con-
venience, at least once. probably twice year,
for the purpose of examining and cleaning the
vessels below their water-line. With regard
to the large ocean steamships, Mr.. Crandall
pointed out that even when the whole ship
could not be taken on the slip, still if her rad
der, or screw or stern post were injured the
stern might be hove up far enough to admit of
repairs while the bulk of the tonnage of
the ship 'oas still qtioat; similarly. if the
bow We're injured, enough OF her length could
be probably drawn upon the slip to admit of
repairs, even il only for temporary purposes
aud enable her to reach her next port Of desti-
nation where superior facilities are to be
found. The Honorable II. A. z. Carter, Mr.
c. Phuger and G.. Macfarlane each remarked,
that when travelling abroad, either in discussing
with strangers the capabilities of the port Of
Honolulu or distinctly engaged in ondeavors
to charter vessels for this port, or seeking in
surers, amongst other questiones, this was
sure to be put: "What facilities have you for
repairs and reft; what for wooden ship,
what for an iron ship?" and ON the answers
to these questions depend largely the rates of
charter or insurance demanded, and conse-
quently the cheapness or costlness Of tho con-
veyance of our imports aud exports, or in
other words, tho smoo'hncs which may for
ward, or the friction which may impede our
business. Its obvious that even apparently
small advances on the rates of freight and in
surance may in tue aggregate prove very seri-
ously detrimental To our commercial facilities.
In this way II appears that the advisability,
ray the necessity, Of providing accopmoda-
'ion for tho repairs Of shipping, coasting and
foreign alike, was Admitted on all hands
Next the praciicabiisty Of Mr.. Crandall's plans
was examined aud conceded. Mr.. Crandall
states that he has constructed no less than
twenty three marine railways similar ~ that
proposed for this port, and that Of these, one
has been successfully at work for twenty
six years without any other repairs than those
necessitated by fair wear and tear IL seens
to us then that the only question left open for
debate Is the hnancial outlook. The estimate
Of $3.50 may be, probably will be insult
cient; still there Is a margin Of $4,000 to fall
back upon before the whole vote Of The late
Legislature is absorbed. Ia all undertakings
Of this kind difficulties occur, unforeseen con-