The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-08-28
MR.. DILLINGHAM; TALKS.
SOMETHING OF THE LABoRERs
ron THE RAILWAY.
The Contractor Employs His own Work.
men Independent of the
Company.

Within the past few days numerous
inquiries have been made at this office
as to the probable reason of Mr.. Dlling-
ham for importing laborers for the new
railroad to Waianae when there are
scores of idle workmen on the
streets. The question was submitted to
Mr.. Dillingham; this morning who
answered it in the following words:
II commenced to agitate the railroad
scheme in 1885. and have always been
a friend to the laboring man. The road
from Honolulu to Pearl City and Eva
Mill was built by workmen of this
country when l could have gotten skill
led laborers who were experts in the
business abroad. desired to help our
laboring men along and in that instance
gave them the work even at sacrifice
to myself and those interested with me.
Most of the material for that road was
bought here when | could have done
much better abroad
"Well, so much for that In 1892,
went East, spending over thirteen
months in America and England, to
raise money to put the road through to
| Kahuku. II was almost an impos.
sibility; no one desired to undertake it.
At last | heard of an insurance com.
pany in England which guaranteed
bonds. l visited it.
They entertained my proposition, and a
man was sent out here to look the mat
ter up. He returned and reported ia
vorably, when the company agreed to
insure the principal and interest on
$4,000, 900, per cent. bonds, which
were also to have been placed by them
at very near par.
''But just three days aiterward, in
New York, received telegram from
Mr.. Thurston at San Francisco stating
that the revolution had taken place and
everything was in state OF unrest.
That exploded all OF my plans and
came home.
after my return | met Mr.. Feek
who wanted the contract to build the
road. The plans were satisfactory and
negotiations were opened. We asked
the Provisional Government to guar
antee interest at 4 per cent. on the
bonds, but in its provisional chara tier
the Government did not think it right
to assume the obligation. But had they
seen fit to do so, a contract might have
been made with Mr.. Feek binding the
contractor to purchase all material here,
and to employ all laborers necessary for
the construction OF the road in this
country.
"Mr Feek then asked to see what he
could do and he was given ten months
in which to raise the money. The rest
is known. Mr.. Feek has put his own
money into the scheme and has secured
enough outside to prosecute the work.
We consider too that he has done re.
markedly well at this season of financial
depression in the United States.
"He has contract to deliver us a
railroad extending from Eva mill to
Kahuku, subject to our specifications
and the approval of the company and
their engineer, for which he is to re-
ceive per cent. bonds at par, and is To
finish the same within two years and
three months. IL will thus appear
only the right to purchase material and
employ labor at the best possible ad-
vantage, but it is a duty to himself and
those interested with him to so financier
as to make every dollar possible out of
the project; and it is perfectly natural
to presume that the best advantages
could be reached by contracting
where he is able to get his money.
at is 4 fact that is known to everyone
that / and those interested with me have
not left stone unturneC
since the inception OF this schem,
now almost ten years ago to obtain thu
necessary funds by placing the bond
ourselves for the completion of the pro
jected line. The obstacles which hav,
personal efforts is already too wei
known to require further explanation.
If our company, as owners of tn,
franchise, were to delay the extension o
the line until such time as they nigh
be successful in placing the bond
| themselves and raise the none,
, to enable them to build the line TO
their own profit and the benefit of loca
dealers in material required and dc
> nestle labor, "a just complaint nigh
then be made that this franchise granite
by the public was being abused b
: disuse for selfish ends instead of givin
. the public the benefit of the extende
road at the earliest practicable moment
Under existing circumstances tn
present contractor of the Company
line holds the same rights and priv
leges enjoyed by any other contraction
viz; To furnish everything require
consistent with the terms of the cor
3 tract, leaving the Company no voice /
= the matter in question, until the wor
J. is completed and offered for acceptanc,
However, understand that is the il
tention of Mr.. Feek to employ in tn
A country all manual labor require,
q Experts in bridge, rock and earth wor
and track laying will be employed {
4 the work will be let out to them by sui
+ contract, and these men, in such cas-
: will employ their own laborers.
e After this contract is finished, if "
is extend the road farther or all the wa
It around the island, let those who no
}. complain of the Company's mode of pr,
Il cedure find capital in this country ,
IS elsewhere to take up The bonds for sue