The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-05-11
THAT FRANCHISE.

The tram system of the city is emf
nently unsatisfactory. The cars are
run up on the plan of the public be-
hanged The employees, from the
head to the foot, seem to have model
ed themselves upon the character of
the young ladies in the refreshment
room at Mugby Junction, as portray
ed by Charles Dickens. 1t will be re-
membered that the main object of
those naughty damsels was to do as
little for the convenience of the pub
lie as they could, and as much for
their inconvenience as possible. When
the dragon at the head of this
amiable coterie visited France and
returned with the news that there the
wishes of the travelling public were
listened to and their tastes catered
for, the select band of young ladies at
the Junction tainted, one and all, at
the recital. The tram line manage
descent from the N[ugby Junction
damsels.
This is a long suffering commu-
nifty. 1t joys along uncomplainingly
under the minor evils. When its fe
male section wears dainty dresses and
these are dirt stained because the cars
have not had their siX-monthly wash,
it merely smiles sickly smile. When
the doors won't shut and the rain
beats in, or the dust sweeps through,
it is merely regarded as a triumph of
construction on the part of the car
builders and marvel of scientific
acumen to have discovered the ears
when constructed. When the cars are
too late or too early at the various
points on the route, it merely gives
a pleasing spice TO life. Shall | miss
the car because it is ahead of time,
or shall | have to wait in the broilng
sun for ten minutes or so because the
mules prefer walking exercise, gives
that charming uncertainty which
lends variety to existence and lifts it
above the dull, dead level of uniform
ity that we should otherwise have to
endure.
All this the community can stand.
But when it comes to the considera-
ton of the safety of the passengers,
it is time to call the attention of the
Minister of the Interior to the fran
chise under which the cars are run,
and to ask whether its provisions have
not been violated The fact that the
cars are unsafe has been frequently
pointed out by the Press of this city.
The brakes work upon one chain in
stead of upon two separate chains.
The consequence is if anything goes
wrong with the forward brake, the
brake at the back of the car also be-
comes useless and the car can dash
along at its own sweet will.
Twice. recently, there has been an
accident on the Nuuanu Valley road,
caused by the brake giving way and
the car flying off in a wild career,
which brought up against Water
houses concrete pillars, smashing the
car. Fortunately, on each occasion,
there were only a few passengers in
the car. On Sunday, when the acct
dent occurred there was only one
man in, and he was active enough to
jump off. But had that car been full
ladies and children, there would
have been no chance of jumping off
and when the crash came there would
have been broken limbs, cuts, bruises,
and very likely death. Such an acct
dent may happen any time. Tt only
requires a little conversation with the
drivers to learn something of the con-
dition of the brakes. Throughout, the
cars their condition is very unsatis-
factory and in many cases dangerous.
Section 6, Subsection 6 of the
franchise, reads: THAT the cars must
be of the most improved construction
for the comfort and convenience and
safety of passengers. The Minister
of the Interior is requested to look
over the passage and then call. Mr.. |
Payne's attention to it. We have
neither comfort convenience nor
safety.