The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-08-10

II present indications count for any
thing Honolulu will have an electric
road in a comparatively short time.
Two applications for franchise have
been presented to the Government
this week, one to be supported by
Victoria capital, and the other by
local money, as far as it can be OBJ
tanned, the balance to come from
America.
On the last steamer from Victoria,
there arrived Mr.. Ballentyne. This
gentleman came prepared to make APP
pIication for favorable franchise for
an electric road, and TO look around
him for a suitable route. He made
the application, being Joined in it by
w. y. Armstrong and J. B. Castle.
Speaking Of the plan, Mr.. Ballentyne
SAID last evening:
'If a franchise for the building of
the road is granted by the Govern
ment, which will justify the invest
ment Of the necessary capital, an
electric railway will be constructed,
covering the central part of the city,
and extending along the beach road to
Waikiki, also to PunahOu, and
through that part Of the city lying
east OF King street, extending also
toward Palama. a line will also be
constructed along PunchbOwl street,
branching off to Nuuanu avenue ana
through Nuuanu street to the Pail.
The Pail road would probably be in
operation by the end Of the year, if
the project is carried out.
There is no intention, however,
TO prevent home capital, from con-
structing and operating any electric
road, if such capital is ready, and the
owners Of it are fully prepared to make
the investment. The project, if carried
out in a thorough way, will require a
large engineering experience, and a
very large amount of money; other
wise il will be a disastrous failure.
Up to the present time il is under
stood that those possessed of home
capital have not been ready to invest
il in such project.
"If such an extensive system of
electric roads is required here by the
people, and home capital is not now
prepared to undertake its construction,
the parties now applying for the fran
chise are willing TO undertake it
promptly, provided the franchise Is
sufficiently liberal. and it meets with
encouragement from the people.
"If this system Of roads Is built, 1t
will be constructed with the very best
materials, and with all the appliances
which experience has furnished for
the best operation Of electric roads.
Car of the latest and most acceptable
patterus Will be used. Care will be
taken that there shall be no infringe
meut. OF the rights now held by the
tramway company, now operated by
horse cars
The other application was made 10y
l.. 4. Thurston, T. w. Hebron and
G. J.. Carter. They intend to use, q
far Is possible, home capit.l. If not
enough of this can be obtained, then
American capitalists will be called
upon. T. w. Hebron, when seen
about the matter yesterday, would
not talk much about it. He did
saw, however, that his company
meant business, and, if they obtained
a franchise, the work would be pushed
as rapidly as possible.
1t is understood that the company
as proposed by the Victoria people,
would be capitalized at Sl,000,OO0. 1t
would, of course, take a route diff
ferent from that used by the Tram
WAYS Company, and that route has
already been decided upon. 1t Is
allowable for new company to lay
tracks parallel to the old company's
rails. for a distance of 100 feet on
any street. The line as proposed by
Mr. Ballentyne would parallel the
present tramway lines in six places,
but in 10 place would the limit of
100 feet be reached.