The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1883-07-18
Hawaiian BEN Telephone Company.

EDrroR GAzETTE:-The effort which is now being
made TO start another Telephone Company in Ho-
nolulu, suggests queries as to the wisdom of the
undertaking.. We now have well established
Company with about three hundred and fifty tele-
phones in use. The lines have been admirably
constructed under the supervision Of Mr.. John
Cassidy, and the central Office system is well nigh
perfect The business has so prospered that al
though no dividends have yet been psid to stock
holders of the Company, the market value Of the
stock has risen from $4,000 to $4,000. This is the
result of the enterprise and perseverance of more
than two years and a half; for the charter of the
Company is dated December 1880. 1t would seem
as though the establishment of another Company
would not be for the benefit of the community and
would be of doubtful profit to those who may en-
gage in it. Now, every telephone is connected with
each Of the other telephones on the Island, and
every additional subscriber extends the coumnni-
cation and enhances the value of the service. The
present Company has the ability at its command
to meet all of the demands of the Island, and If
Supported will become more and more useful as its
operations are extended.
II the new Company take away subscribers from
the old Company. it will lessen the usefulness of
the old Company, but will not supply its place and
fill the public demand unless it succeeds in getting
away all of the subscribers. This is utterly out
of the question, for there are too many directly
and indirectly interested in the old Company TO
admit of it,
The community is not large enough 20 maintain
two systems to advantage, ana ulFlSlOu VIII
prove public misfortune. As to the profits to be
made by the new Company it is matter of much
doubt If profits can be made for number of years
The experience of the old Company shows that
after two years and half of most intelligent work,
with large list of subscribers, profits have yet
been divided; the Company is still in debt. and
perhaps another six months will pass, even If the
whole list remains unbFoken, before any will be
divided
II another set of telephone poles is erected on
our narrow streets the result will be most obiec-
tionable. If the wires are laid in tube, or pipe,
under ground, they can hardly be expected to do
| good service. Laying underground telephone wire,
/ understand has not yet proved successful in
other places; the close contact in which large
number of wires are brought, when confined for
long distances in pipe and the effect of moisture
tend TO interfere with the electric currents. And
not only will the first cost of laying underground
wires, far exceed the cost of the pole system,
but the cost and delay attending repairs will be
much greater. The inaccessbilitY of the under
ground wires, may sometimes cause serious inter
ruDtions.
: II is said that much fault is found with the fact
that sos out of 900 of the shares of the present
Company are owned by a foreign Company. Ii
there is justice in the complaint, trust it is true
that the foreign stock is soon to be sold in this
market
1t is sincerely to be hoped that no ill-advised
action will be taken, which will impair the useful
ness of our present invaluable telephone system.