The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-02-22
WAS MUCH TALK
Rapid Transit Promoters Have a
Discussion.
TRAM AND VESTED RIGHTS
Against Condemnation Proceedings
By New any-Organization
for Work Is Effected.

About forty of the leading business
men, capitalists and property holders
of the city met at the hall Of the Cham
er of Commerce yesterday afternoon
to resume consideration of the project
of an electric street railway system
for Honolulu 1t was lively, interest
ing meeting from beginning to end.
Chairman Lowrey raped for order
promptly at 3 o'clock and it was an
hour and half later when the motion
for adjournment was put and carried.
1t was distinctly case of "the time
has come, the walrus said, to talk OF
many things" Discussion was free
and earnest, but entirely without feel
ing The spirit of the meeting was
an animation to accomplish some
thing for the good of the place and
the people in the most direct, discreet
and best advised manner. JOS. A. Gill
man was secretary.
Fred. J. Lowrey, the general chair
man, called upon the chairman of the
select committe to report to the meet
ing. Mr. C.. G. Ballentyne responded
at once by saying that the commit
tee had considered it best to present
a statement or plan instead of sub
mitting a prospectus. Much informa-
tion had been gathered and serious
consideration had been given several
features of the enterprise. 1t was con-
sidered best to recommend the forma-
ton of company to apply to the
Legislature for charter Or franchise.
This document, in the opinion of the
committee, should be prepared by gen
tlemen representing those who show
ed active interest in the rapid transit
scheme. 1t was proposed to make this
movement as broad as possible to the
end that public sentiment might be en-
rolled on the side of the company.
There were various grades of cleo
trio or other rapid transit lines. The
committee thought that for construc-
tion and equipment and maintenance
of 20 miles of road here the company
should be capitalized at half million
dollars. If all this money is not eX-
pended in carrying out the first Sec
ton of plans the treasury stock in
reserve may be called upon at any
time to make extensions of improve
mentS.
There were only one or two OF the
gentlemen present who, after the re-
port of the committee had been ac
cepted and approved, failed to step
forward and subscribe for one share
(S100) of the capital stock, Ten per
cent of this shall be paid in at once,
creating a fund for expenses. The
committee had recommended pro-
visional board of directors to consist
of ten of the stock subscribers. These
are the gentlemen, including the mem
bers of the first executive committee
of five: Fred. ]. Lowrey, Theo. F.
Lansing, Jas. A. Kennedy, G. G. Bal
lentyne, c. S. Desky, Jos. a. Gilman,
John H. Soper, J. H Fisher, Geo. r.
Carter, Jas. F. Morgan.
Mr.. Kennedy inquired if it was the
purpose of the company to tap Pa
lama and Kalihi Mr. Lowrey an
swered that the directors would solicit
right of way in all traffic territory
and that he was pretty certain those
particular districts would receive at
tention.
w R. Castle moved that the COM
mittee of ten report from time to time
to meetings to be composed Of those
who had subscribed for stock. Mr..
Castle, continuing, suggested that the
provisional directorate look up meth
DDS of application of power other than
electric currents What was desired,
of course, was the most efficient and
economical system, but at the same
| time one that would in no wise de-
tract from the beauty of the town or
the comfort of its citizens. By cor
respondence on the subject he had
satisfied himself that compressed air
| power was now in successful use and
| he had been assured by a responsible
| expert that such a line as this city
now had could be provided or dupli-
Gated and improved with air as the
| power for the sum of $4,000. 1t is
a cheaper power than electricity. Sen
| ator McCandless had also investiga-
tions in this field and thought COM
pressed air should not be left out of
consideration.
J. F. Fisher-We should apply for
a charter to use either electricity OF
| compressed air.
f. S. Dodge-Rapid transit should
include trolleys, storage batteries an6