The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-08-03


he Auckland Star sums up the
mount as follows:
1t must be confessed that, when all is
old that Mr.. Speight has to tell, it does
lot amount to very much. The Victor
an Commissioner comes back with una
Dated confidence in the system of man.
agement which is in operation in all the
colonies. Mr.. Speight admits that in
three respects the American manage |
ment is in advance OF the Victorian, and |
these are first, the conveyance OF per- |
ishable produce in refrigerating cars ;
second, the sleeping accommodation
and, third, the compulsory checking OF
baggage and communication at all points
between the passengers and the officials
of the train upon the great main lines, SO
that the traveller from end to end of the
continent may be freed from trouble and
responsibility on account OF his luggage.
The conveyance of perishable produce is
of great importance, and it is Interesting
to know, therefore, that the application
OF cold air to storage carriages on rail-
ways has not yet proved success. The
refrigerating cars are furnished with
supplies OF ice, and to establish cold
storage on the Victorian lines Mr..
Speight brought plans and specifications
for the most improved machinery for ice
manufacture, in order that the Depart
ment might furnish its cars with supplies
of ice. Another subject upon which MIR.
Speight furnishes some useful informa-
ton is that of electric lighting as applied
to trains. So far, he declares, it has not
been a success. The system of storage
which has yielded the best results is
cumbersome and costly, and the produc-
ton of electricity by means of dynamos
entails so much extra strain upon the
engineering staff, who are already fully
| taxed with their responsible duties III
running trains, that it is open to grave
objections. Mr.. Speight does not recon-
mend the Victorian Board to make any
change upon the existing oil lamps. Mr.
Speight considers that the Victorian
railways compare favorably with those
of America for speed, comfort, safety anc
cheapness.
From the substance Of the above
report, it will appear that several o.
the most advanced improvements
lately introduced in American rail
road travel have certain faults of de
tail, which are not yet overcome
This, of course, is to be expected a
first; but these will doubtless soo1
be remedied by improvements.
It would also appear from thu
report that certain railway condi
tons differ in Australia from thos
prevailing in America. In tn
former country there are no trans
continental lines, nor any on which
more than 600 miles of continuous
travel is necessary; while in Americ'
the length of railroad journey
mount up into the thousands O
miles. The Australian interior i
thinly peopled, while the American
interior contains teeming popula
tions and large cities. We shoul'
Judge from these, and other differ
ences which are important and mum
erous, that each continent must, to
large extent, evolve its own railroa
system; although there may b
many improvements that woul
be equally beneficial to both sys
TENS. At present the plans of tn
rolling stock on Australian railway
do not differ materially from thos
obtaining in America, although th
locomotives Of the former are lighte
and the carriages or cars in trai
are fewer. These conditions ais
) differ in the several colonies
Queensland railroads being chief
on the narrow gauge principle.
From these diverse development
Hawaii will have choice of plar
as its conditions for railroad trav'
differ materially from either Anne
lea or Australia, and approachin
nearer to the short-curve and angl
lar conditions of the railroa
system of England. It is cles
that the railroad system of an
) country must be made to col
form with the topography owe
which the lines will pass; and it
possible that railroad system wi
have to be adopted on the Havana
Islands that may differ, in some in
portant particulars, from any othe
, railroad system hitherto obtainin
in any country. It is also quit
possible that railroad constructio
in these Islands, and also the mar
agement of the lines when in oper,
ton, will have to devolve upon tn
government, in the manner Obtain
, ing throughout all Australasia an
in most parts of Europe where the1
is railroad communication. Privat
l syndicates will only build lines ths
are certain to pay dividends; BIT
there are lines needed in all coul
tries to open up sections of countr
where the prospect of dividends
very slim.
At the annual meeting of the Sue
5 Canal Company, the receipts for 1SS