The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-08-05

measure almost to a man, / do not
think there is much probability of q
cable being laid by this means within
several years, if at all.
My reasons for this opinion are:
First THAT there has for years eX-
listed and still exists a strong senti-
ment in all parties of the United
States against government ownership
of cables, telegraphs, railroads, etc.
There has of late been q rapid devel-
opment of a contrary sentiment, but
it cannot yet be claimed to be the
dominant sentiment upon the subject.
1t is of my personal knowledge that
several strong advocates of the recent
proposition to lay a government cable
to Honolulu would personally much
have preferred some other means of
accomplishing the object, a subsidy
or guarantee for example, but advO-
Gated the measure on the ground of
its patent necessity and the fact that
no other medium appeared to be FEAST
BILE at that time.
Notwithstanding therefore the
strong support given to the PROPOSE
sition at the last session of Congress,
it is not at all certain that the next
Congress will support similar meas
ure, especially if a private company,
with any plausible prospects of success
in laying the cable, applies for sub
sidy to assist in so doing. There is
little doubt in my mind that the ap-
plication at the last Congress for
charter was Injurious to the govern
ment ownership proposition, although
it was not intended so to be, and al
though there was no prospect of early
action by such company.
SecOnd:-FrOm Mr.. Cleveland's
past expressions on the subject, 1
think it not at all improbable that he
would veto proposition for the gov
ernment construction of the cable, if
not subsidy to a company.
Even though government appro-
priation should be made, Congress
does not meet until next December,
and the appropriation bills are not
passed until the end of the session
which does not usually end until some
time between June and September;
this involves delay of fifteen or
eighteen months before we will know
whether the proposition is to be fav-
ored or rejected.
The proposition to construct the
Nicaragua canal either by the govern
ment directly or through subsidized
company has been for years before the
American public; has received the en-
thusiastic support of Legislatures,
Chambers of Commerce and individ-
uals throughout the country; has been
favorably recommended by the presi-
dents of both parties and by the sew
eral committees of both Houses of
Congress to which it has been re-
ferred, and yet year after year legisla-
ton carrying out the proposition has
failed of enactment.
With this example before our
eyes we should not spare any effort on
our part because of expectation that
the cable may be constructed by the
United States Government without
action on the part of Hawaii.
Construction by an American cable
company appears to be the most FEAST
ble plan. The following suggestions
are made for Government action:
First. Secure as soon as practica-
bic from a competent cable engineer
or engineers, full, technical opinion
setting forth:
(D The needed size, weight and
composition respectively of a cable
from California to Honolulu; from HO-
nolulu to Japan; from Honolulu to
Australia.
~ The engineers estimate of cost
of each of these lines.
80 The tonnage, power and equip
ment of a cable repair ship for the
California Honolulu line; likewise for |
such additional lines.
(4) The engineers estimate of the
cost and annual running expense of |
each such ship.
After obtaining such opinion and |
draw up, under the super |
vision and advice of such engineer, |
full detail specifications, setting forth |
the location, length and character of
the several cables designated.
Submit such specifications to the
repective builders of cables, and OBJ
tain from them tenders setting forth:
"a For what sum they would build
each such cable; or any two, or all of
them, f. o. b. at the nearest point of
shipment.
o. For what sum they would do
likewise and lay, operate and keep
such cables in repair, respectively, for
a period say, of two or three years.
~ Procure tenders of a similar
character for furnishing the necessary
cable ship or ships.
Before any government or company
can be reasonably expected to under
take definite action it must know two
things, viz: % What is required? (2)
What it will cost? We do not now
know either of these facts, but both of
them can be ascertained at slight cost.
PROCEDURE AFTER INFORMATION IS
SECURED.
Having in hand the information
from the engineer defining exactly
what we want; the tenders showing
exactly what we can get it for and the
as to what we can depend
upon both from private individuals
and other governments, we will then
be in a position to decide what is best
for ourselves to do.
What this course may prove to be
depends entirely upon the information
and the outside assistance
available.
1t is not necessary now to decide up
on what course should be pursued
there are several methods of procedure
however, any one of which might be
which seemed best under the
as they appear at that