The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-12-30

fast as circumstances permit, to carry right
through the northeastern districts of Ha-
waii, from its starting point at Mahukona
to a terminus at Hilo. In n country whose
internal resources are being, for the first
time in its history rapidly developed, the
question Of internal communications Is a
vital one, and We hope to see Mr.. Wilder's
sound and plucky example followed in
many directions within the next few years.
Where railroads are not yet required the
work Of making good passable roads is one
Of the most important duties of the Govern
ment of the country, and we have with
pleasure to record that both the Executive
and the Legislature have the PAST year fully
recognized this fact and made provision for
earnest and extensive work in this depart
ment of national progress. The circum-
stances of the country strongly demanded
the execution of works of this class in excess
of anything which could be carried out with
the aid of the ordinary resources of the
country. Many other public works of an
expensive character were also very much
needed. a large increase in the quantity of
available labor was also a pressing need of
the times. Under the guidance of a Min
istry largely imbued with progressive ideas
the Legislature of 1882 consented to take a
step i'll regard To which it had the encour-
aging example of many countries similarly
situated, and notably of the prosperous and
enterprising people of those British colonies
which possess the boon of independent popu-
lar Government. TO provide for the wants
which the sudden and rapid development
of the country as a field for the industrial
enterprise of the all pervading Anglo
Saxon, it was resolved to pledge the credit
of the country for a loan sufficient to meet
many of its more immediate and pressing
requirements. Half a million for immI-
grafton and a million and a half for much
needed public works and for the encourage
ment of various forms of agriculture. Thus
the year 1882 has seen not only a grand and
most noteworthy advance on the material
resource of the Kingdom, but also the
initiation of sound and wise measures for
extending and consolidating the industrial
wealth already attained.
Before passing from the consideration of
the material progress made by the country
during 1882, two new enterprises demand
q word from us. Mr.. Wilder's name
must again be mentioned with honor
in connection with the Marine Railway
at this port, now almost completed. This
though in point of fact, Government work
owes in a great measure its prompt and
satisfactory execution to Mr.. Wilder, who
undertook a somewhat -unremunerative con-
tract to build 1 it for the sum which the Leg
i~slature of 1880 set apart for the purposes
This railway which will prove to be a great
advantage to the of the port has
been almost wholly constructed during the
year now coming to a close. The other en-
terprise to which we wish to allude is that
of the Oceanic Steamship Company which
has undertaken to supply us with more fire.
quent and more advantageous c~ommunica-
ton with San Francisco than any that we
nave heretofore enjoyed. For this company
two large and commodious and handsomely
fitted steamers are now being built which
will, when they are placed on the line,
entirely revolutionize our means of transit
to the American coast, both for passengers
and cargo. Meanwhile the periodical trips
of the c~ompany's chartered steamer Suez
have proved q valuable addition to the
means of communication heretofore avail
able. Though this country reaps the chief
benefit of this new enterprise the capital at
the back of it has been almost wholly pro
vided in San Francisco. This is but another
instance of the large investments made in
the work of developing the industrial re-
sources of these islands by American capital
lists since the Reciprocity Treaty came into
operation. How large a part of the profits
derived from the cultivation of Hawaiian
soil and the prosecution of Hawaiian COM
merce passes into the hands of Americans
receives a signai proof in the fact that in
spite of the heavy excess in money value oil
the exports of this country over its imports,
-.I-oo ~ Co., LH,o ooioao 70 olvro-o hiUb
and stands as this year of our largest ma
terial progress comes to its close at from :
to 24 per cent. per premium.