The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-11-11
san Francisco and Australian steam SER
vice have been as follows:
THE PROPOSED SERVICE TO HILo.

Inlttee nave Obtained the IOiIOWl0g state
ment OF distances:
The distance in nautical miles
from San Francisco 10 Homo
lulu. ........ ............... 2086 miles
San Francisco to Hilo ......... 1896 q"
Hilo to Honolulu, passing to
windward of Maui and Mo-
IOkdl ,-.... ..........-.....-. ZU0
San Francisco to Honolulu via
Hllo ...... .......... ..-....ZZUI
Excess OF distance via Hito
over direct service ........... :. lis
The committee were informed by the
agents of the Oceanic Company that the
average consumption of coal by the Aus
tralia steaming Il knots an hour is 40
tons per "a hours. Estimating coal at
s. ton, would give cost for coal OF
1920 per day, or at the rate OF 95 cents
mile.
The extra cost OF coal for steaming the
additional lis miles, if the steamer
should come by way of Hilo, would
| therefore be $l09.25.
| The additional time which would be
taken up by calling at Hilo would be:
l. Steaming time, 1l5 miles at IA miles
an hour, s hours and II minutes.
| 2. Additional time occupied in landing
mail and passengers at Hilo.
| The committee have consulted with
! both Captain King and Captain Fuller
upon this point, and they are OF the
opinion that at the outside it would take
| four hours from the time OF the pilot to
dropping him again off Hilo Bay.
There would be no difficulty in enter
ing Hilo harbor at any time OF day or
night, as there is no bar, and the en-
trance is half a mile wide with a mini
mum depth OF So to 40 feet.
If the Australia should come to Homo
| lulu via Hilo, she would have to travel
22O1 miles. If she travels at the rate of
only 1872 knots an hour, or 314 knots per
"a hours, she would make the trip in ex-
actly seven days, plus the time occupied
in Hilo of say four hours, putting her in
| Honolulu before dark on the seventh
day.
Ii instead of running at 1879 knots,
the steamer should run at IA knots, or
1856 knots per "a hours, she would reach
Hilo at II O'Clock noon of the sixth day,
have ample time to land her passengers
and arrive in Honolulu at daylight on
the morning of the seventh day as she
now does.
Fourteen knots an hour is we'll within
the Australia's power. She usually runs
at that rate now for the first three days,
and then slows down to Ii knots an hour
and less, SO as not to get in ahead of
schedule time.
The schedule last above mentioned
would still leave her II hours lee way to
get to Honolulu before II o'clock on the
seventh day.
The committee had several meetings
with Mr.. VIM. G.. Irwin and MIR. Claus
Spreckels concerning this subject.
They were of the opinion that stopping
at Hilo on the down trip would probably
largely increase the tourist travel; but
did not wish to commit themselves def
nitely to the Australia's going there.
They stated, however, that in all prob
ability the Zealandia would begin run
ming again about the 1st of next Deem
Der and that they were in favor of her
going by the way of Hilo. The Zealan-
dia would probably run during the sugar
season only, however; that is, from De-
cember to June or July.
ADVANTAGES IN FAVOR OF THE HILo
The main advantages to be derived
from the down steamer stopping at Hilo,
are three, viz =
l. 4 radical increase in the facilities
of travel, and consequent increase in the
number of tourists visiting the Islands.
9. The initiation of direct steam COM
munication between San Francisco and
Hilo.
8. A great improvement in the mail
service on Hawaii.
SUMMARY.
The foregoing statements OF fact show ::
LIST. That for the purpose of establish
ing steam communication with foreign
countries, Hawaii has for number of
years paid very much larger sums than
were ordinarily chargeable for carrying
the mails.
This policy we believe to have been a
sound and wise one, as fast steam COM
muncation has developed the country
and contributed largely to its advance
ment, financially and otherwise, and but
for the assistance given by the Govern
ment in the early stages OF the business,
it probably would not have become es-
tablished as it now has.
End. The policy has been to reduce
the amount of the subsidy as the steam
service has become established.
The questions for the Committee now
to consider are
LIST. Shall we continue to give any
subsidy for foreign steam service?
End. Shall we offer any inducements
for a steamer to run to Hilo?
In reply to the first question the COM
mittee are of opinion that a subsidy
should continue to be given over and
above the amount which the mail car
riage amounts to. The service given,
although not equal to that afforded on
frst-class routes, is fairly good one
far better than any which Hawaii ever
had before.
The general financial depression has
been felt by the Oceanic Company as
well as by every other commercial inter
est here, and by reason thereof the local
steamer runs a portion of the year at a
loss, and one steamer, the Zealandia, has
been taken off altogether.
The subsidy from the Australian Colo
MES has also been largely decreased, and
there is great danger that it will be either
withdrawn altogether or SO much de-
creased that the steamers will be with
drawn.
Undder these circumstances we do not
feel that the service is so firmly estab-
lished that the extra support should be
withdrawn altogether.
The next question is simply the dollars
and cents one of chow much can we af-
ro,I% -,