The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-24

selves in hearty sympathy with it and
pledged themselves to give all the aid in
their power After completing all he ex-
poets to accomplish in Washington the
colonel will communicate with the Cham
Der of Commerce, which Will then do It's
part.
A main consideration in Colonel Spal-
ing's project is that he has obtained an ex
elusive concession from the Hawaiian
Government, which would prevent Canada
from obtaining foothold there except by
arrangement with his people. The Cana
dian Pacific has long desired to commune
cate directly with Hawaii en- route TO
China, Japan and Australia, but so far has
only succeeded in projecting line to Fan
ming Island, q distance OF $500 miles. A
direct line between San Francisco and
Honolulu would be $500 miles.
In explaining this to the Chamber of
Commerce trustees yesterday Colonel
Spalding referred to the fact that while
there were 100000 nautical miles of ocean
cable represented on the charts of the
world, which he exhibited, the Pacific
Ocean was clear. 1t was of vast CONNER
cial importance to the Pacific Coast and
the Government interests that one be laid
to the Hawaiian Islands, afterward to be
extended, without delay. After the order
was given it would only take eighteen
months to manufacture and lay such
cable.
AS to the sinews of war, the Hawaiian
Government had agreed to give subsidy
of $4,000 a year for twenty years on GER
tain terms. One of these was that the
work should be commenced not later than
May 1, 1897, and finished by November,
1898. There were other minor conditions
regarding interruption of service, inter
island ownership, government rates. etc.
The contractor would also be required to
give a $25OOO0 bond to secure faithful
service.
Another condition was that the United
States Government should give "Substan-
tial aid" te the enterprise. The colonel
explained that he desired to obtain from
the Government subsidy OF $3.50, 900 a
year for twenty years, which, with that
a year. He estimated that the cable COM
plete, with stations, plant, land lines,
cable-ships and running expenses, would
require So, 900 900 capital.
To realize this amount the colonel said
| it was his intention as soon as he had Be-
cured the Government subsidy to form a
company. &c would expect to sell at least
as much In Honolulu, and the rest required
| in the East and Europe. He calculated
| that at any rate there would be a yearly
| expenditure of 100000, of which $1,000
would be supplied by subsidy and 100000
from the business receipts. The proposed
COM any would thus have to possess at
leasl 81 600, 900 capital in order to properly
finance the project.
The trustees expressed warm interest in
the project asking many questions.
| The promoter of the scheme, Colonel u.
! S. Spalding, is an American, having been
born in Ohio, and led regiment in the
war. He first went to Hawaii in 1867 as
the special confidential agent of the
United States Government While there
he was made United States Consul at
Honolulu and was appointed charge
d affairs. Since then he has been in bust
ness in the islands as a sugar-panter.
Business has brought him frequently to
San Francisco and he states that he has
crossed the intervening water seventy-ive
or eighty times, so that he had thor
ough acquaintance with the geographical
situation He acquired legal citizenship
| in Hawaii, but claims to have never aban-
doned his American citizenship and right
| to vote.
| The Colonel leaves to-day or tomorrow
| for Washington, d. c., where he will pro-
| coed to prepare for an active campaign
when Congress meets.