The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-05-20
CARRIER PIGEON SERVICE SADPL|GHT0 YOUNG MAN l
COMMISSIONER MARSDEN Is EN-
COURAGED.
Authorities Say That Neither the Dis
tance Between the Islands or the
Channel Winds Will be Obstacles.

Commissioner Joseph Marsden of
Honolulu, who is at the head of the
new carrier pigeon company, has
mailed maps of the islands to the best
posted homing pigeon men in this
country, and, according to the San
Francisco Chronicle, they have replied
that neither the distance between the
islands or the channel winds will be
an obstacle in the way of successful
flights. Kauai and Maui are both but
100 miles from Honolulu, and the most
distant point of the islands from
Honolulu is but $50 miles. The best
record shows that pigeons have flown
GA miles in one day, in a fly from
Gainesville, Ga, to Philadelphia. This
could not be done regularly, but it is
generally considered feasible plan
to fly pigeons over moderate-sized
bodies of water at very fast rate.
The need of more frequent and
speedy transmission of messages be-
tween the islands of the Hawaiian
group has been strongly felt, and as
there seems to be little or no pros
pect of an inter-island cable for some
years at least, the proposition to estab-
lish a homing pigeon service is deem
ed good business scheme. The com
pany being organized is to begin with
| af ;,t1
shares of SO each. 1t is proposed to
begin with a loft in Honolulu and
equip it with fifty pairs of young
birds of pedigree stock and half a
dozen older birds with established
regulations. 1t is expected that with
in year birds will be raised all over
the islands and the service will be in
full blast. Commissioner Marsden has
bought already nine pairs of first.
class homers from HI. F. Whitman OF
Alameda, secretary of the Pacific
Coast Pigeon and Homing Society
Four pairs went down to Honolulu or
the steamer Australia on the last triI
and five pairs followed on a schooner
These birds will be sent to different
islands for the purpose of raising
young birds as quickly as possible
The plan for establishing the new ser
vice includes the following estimates:
Cost of plant--Breeding and train.
ing loft in Honolulu, $3.50; so pairs OF
young birds at Sc, $500; pairs of ped
igree birds at $50, $3.50; receiving loft
at Honolulu. $75: breeding and train
ing loft at Hawaii, $75; breeding anC
training loft at .,.aui, 500; receiving
loft at Maui, $75; breeding and train
ing loft at Kauai. 500; receiving loft
at Kauai, $75; sundries, baskets, etc.
800; total, $500.
Cost of maintenance-Supplies, feet
all lofts, per year, $1O50: labor (atten
dants), $500; total, 5000.
Revenue-Fifty plantations to pay
annual subsidy of $50 each per annum
for which consideration messages viii
be carried at half rates, $3.50; receipt,
from messages, $4,000; total, $45OO.
The inter-island steamship com
panies will carry the birds to and fr,
between the islands from their lofts
so that they can be flown back will
messages. Enough stock has already
been subscribed to guarantee the sue
cess of the scheme, and meeting will
be called soon to organize the com
pany and apply for charter. Loca
men will do everything in their powel
to aid the Hawaiian scheme, and ar,
anxiously waiting for developments.