The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-15
MR.. FEEK'S RAILROAD.
He Makes a New Contract for
the Line Around Oahu.
WILL USE PUGET SOUND TIMBER
Passenger Rates 20 Go Up On January
Nelson q Fort sherpasd h"sn
opensd-Ths floods Faded

reek the zeII-knorn contractor Of
Chi. city. ~ho has the contract to build
railroad on the stand Of Oahu, on which
Honolulu 10 situated, has Just returned
from the Haxsiisn Islands. where the
terms and details OF the contract were
perfected
Tn. island OF Oahu is 20 be completely
encircled By railroad, with asfoot track.
e;ghteen ard one-half miles Of which are
row in operation and paying well. Mr..
Feek has secured the contract for building
fftx-fossr miles more Of the road. leaving
forty mile. still 20 be contracted for.
Unlike other Americans who me from
Honolulu, Mr.. Feek is no. enthusiastie
over polities. He went there on business.
and SAYS ne Is not mixing politics With
hi. business. lie has nothing 70 say about
the government OF the islands, but talks
freely Of bis railroad contract, which -
made with the Oahu Railway 4 Land
Company, Of which John II. Patty is presi-
dent and C. r. Lauksa is treasurer. On
account Of the political agitation on the
islands. Hr. Feek Is given ten months IN
which TO begin the work and two
years and three months TO compiets the
contract lie has three separate contracts.
two for cash and one under the bond sys-
TEN. There Is a governments subsidy OF
500 per mile annually for five years, or
s.. so per mile, and Mr.. Feek has an agree
rnent that this subsidy will be paid 20 the
bank OF Bishop Il Co.. the largest bank IN
Honolulu. as trustee. for the payment OF
interest on the bonds. The work will De
largely suh-iet, favorable propositions hav-
ing already been received from Japanese
and Chinese for the greater part OF the
clearing. grading. etc.
In arranging the details of the contrac
Mr.. Feek won n victory Tor Puget sound
timber The bridge tinbers are to be Of
yellow fir, and at least one-half the ties
and ell the fence posts are 10 be of cedar.
One-half the ties are TO be OF native ohia
wood. which is as hard as oak. and will
be used on the curves rs IL will hold spikes
well. The people there knew nothing
about the qualities OF cedar for durability,
and we're inclined TO favor redwood. The
facts that cedar will last lifetime in the
ground and still longer on the roof of
building are familiar TO everybody here,
and Mr. Fcek so far succeeded in convinc-
Ing the Honolulu railroad builders Of
the merits of the wood that IL will
be used not only in ties but
fence posts along the right-of-way. The
contractor can use either cedar or red wood,
as he may prefer. The contract includes
the building of all fences, buildings and a
telephone line along the entire route. All
the train despatching and other railroad
business. which in this country is done by
telegraph. is done there by telephone.
The track is TO he of steel rails, 50 pounds
20 the yard. laid on ties 2, go TO the mile.
Mr. Feek is now engaged in making
arrangements for the work but the time
for beginning practical operations is yet
uncertain.
When he left the islands. December 1,
Mr.. Fcek says the sugar crop was looking
splendid, and large crop was expected.
4 number of large plantations and some
stock ranges are on the proposed line of
road. The rice fields were also looking
well. and the island looked entirely pros
porous from financial standpoint.