The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-09-05
RuRaAa For THE RAllROADl
Contractor Dillingham; Celebrates
His birthday according TO Pro-
misc.


mise.
A sort of preliminary opening of
the Oahu Railway took place yestcr-
day, The contractors new engine,
from the Baldwin Locomotive
Works, with train of two third
class cars, made trial trip on the
rails to the Palama rice plantation,
a distance of about mile. AL
though the track was unballasted,
this trial trip had to he made in re-
demption of a promise.
Mr.. b. f. Dillingham;, promoter
of the Oahu Railway and Land
Company, on his birthday year
previous, was accosted by an ac-
quaintance with the remark:
"Well, Mr.. Dillingham;, you have
got your franchise: when are you
going to give us the railway?""
Mr.. Dillingham; replied that on
his next birthday, that day one year,
he hoped to treat his friends to
railway ride.
Since the giving of this promise
many things have arisen to threaten
the failure of its fulflment. 1t was
",ouch and go" for the bark
Deutschland to arrive in time with
rails from Bremen. There were
other critical circumstance attend
ing the effort, but, with a strong
company now at his back, the
originator of the enterprise, having
taken the contract to build the road,
resolutely pushed operations to their
present advanced stage.
When the appointed day arrived
Mr.. Dillingham; was ready to cele-
brate. His engine had been set up
some days. Two third class cars,
the best passenger accommod alton
as yet on the ground, were put to-
gether. They were attached to the
collision end of the locomotive, the
bulseye headlight lamp glaring up
on the passengers. Seated in the
forward car were the following citi-
zens: Hon. w. r. Castle, president
of the Oahu Railway and Land
Company; Hons. II. NJ. Whitney,
H. A. Widemann, Paul Neumann,
M. p. Robinson, A. Jaeger and
Frank Brown; Marshal j. II. So
per, DR.. j. M. Whitney, Messrs. E.
Muller, W. NJ. Gif'ard, II. Lose,
Godfrey Brown, j. G. Spencer, w,
A. Bowen, Marcus Colburn, Geo.
p. Castle, j. l.. Torbert, H. A.
Parmelee, j. H. Fisher, G. Hammer,
L. S. Southwick, John Grace, ID.
Logan of the BULLETIN, F. J. Tesla,
w. G. Ashley, secretary o. r. &c l..
Co., and B. F. Dillingham;, with a
few others. The rear car was crowd
ed with natives.
With shrill blast from the whis-
tie and the bell changing, the engine
moved easily off with its load
Three rousing cheers were given by
the passengers, and crowds assem-
bled at the starting point respond
ed. Groups of natives were scat
tered all along the line, the men
shouting, the women waving saluta.
tions, and the children screaming
with pleasure at the advent of the
iron horse. The cars ran with mos,
remarkable smoothness notwith-
standing the absence of ballast from
the track, showing very excellent
work iu constructing the permanent
way as we'll as superior article O
springs under the coaches. Indeed
many of the passengers had Otter
had rougher rides in first class car
on old established railways. Thu
speed given the train was high un
der the circumstances, being esti
mated at about ten miles an hour
Mr.. Kluegel, civil engineer of tn
company, manipulated the throttl
valve and exercised the creates
care against accident.
When the engine started an affu
sion Of damp SCOT fell upon the pas
sengers in front, giving their face
the appearance of having met wit
powder explosion. Presiden
Castle wore a fresh-laundried whit
linen suit, which was soeted to hin
in fine polka dot style. He regarded
the baptism as apledge of good fat
from the road, similar to the ancien
English practice of sealing Ian
sales with the delivery of sod fror
the property to the purchaser.
1t vas not deemed advisable T.
detain the passengers for the return
trip, as the boiler hue of the engin
developed some defect requiring
little time to remedy. The elate
guests of the occasion, however
found 1t no hardship to make thei
way a few rods across lots to joi
the King street tramcars for town
All on the cars were jubilant owe
the success of the trial trip, and MI
Dillingham; was heartily congratr
lated on the redemption of his brit
day promise.
In the course of few weeks III
line to Pearl Harbor will be con
pleted and efficient rolling stoc
have arrived from the States. The
1t is probable that the railway vi
have grand inauguration,