Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-03-26

THE article on the proposed Marine Rail-
way which we published on Saturday last,
together with a weighty communication on
the same snbject, seem to have borne fruit,
and just exactly that fruit which we hoped
for, viz: open discussion, and free ventila-
ton of both sides of the question, for we are
always glad to admit that every public matter
has its two sides, both of which we are glad
to see the general community we'll informed
upon.
The Gazette takes ns and our correspondent
to task for supposing that it is Throwing
cold water" upon the project 1t is perfect
ly true that that paper does not throw cold
water " OH the preJect, as such, but it decided
ly does do 50 on the advisabiity of its early
commencement.
Delays. little or great, are proverbially
dangerous, and We say that considering our
rapidly increasing inter.island fleet, and the
rapidly increasing value of each vessel en-
ployed, and of the work exactcd from each, it
is high time the work was begun. Again, it
is estimated that the labor of construction will
probably cover year and half, 30 that il it
be commenced Tomorrow, tho first ship will
not be drawn up until after the lapse of that
period
Now, what sort of loss to the whole mercan-
tile community does this represent Take the
Lehud. Three days and very considerable ex-
pense were devoted to preparing to heave
down, her engines had to be most carefully
alnro1 ha.vin,, ln,un MI nd
secured, pontoons put under her, before the
work of repair could be taken in hand at all
She misses one entire weeks work, her own
ers their earnings, and her customers their
conveniences.
The account stands something in this wise.
As at present, heaving down expenses are
somewhere near $1,000, and repairing ex-
penses extra, and whole trip lost with ,he
railway two to three days work, railway ex-
penses about $500 more or less, and work
resumed +; balance in favor of railway, say
500 cash and weeks work. Now. seeing
made available for more than a year hence,
seeing that the money for this purpose has been
already voted, bearing in mind, moreover,
that the Legislature of 1852 may nullify tha,
which was done in lss0, that there are many
items in the last appropriation Act which
might be drawn upon for exceptional outlay
incurred by the epidemic rather than this
Marine Railway vote, coronations, pedigrees
Chinese subsidies. and all such rubbish, it seems
to us, that nothing remains but to conclude a
well-deined bargain with sone RESPONSE
BILE person or persons, and put the work in
hand as soon as these conditions can be
assured.
The construction of the railway will give
employment 10 large numbe, Of mechanics
and laborers for mere than year, and as
soon as it is completed the whole inter
island fleet will want to use 1t. II appears to
be beyond question that such convenience
will be an absolute necessity, which will
show itself TO be more and more urgent every
week from the present day until the railway
is ready for use, 80 why delay! The owners
Of the coasters. and all the merchants, plant
ers and mill owners ought to be able Ia feel
sone sort II assurance that their supplies car
be forwarded, and their produce brought W
with regularity and dispatch, and in order Il
effect this, there are needed facilities for re-
pairs which shall be at once certain, speedy
and economical, and ~ again = the sooner the
better.