The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-07-07
A START is MADE
Ground Broken for the New Tran
sit System.
M0ARA ALA THE PLACE
Just One Day Ahead Of Time - EN-
Coming-A Modern Service.

Ever since the preliminary organi-
zation of the Honolulu Rapid Transit
and Land Company was effected. a lit
tie more than a year ago. an electric
street railway system for Honolulu
has been assured. This is a home en-
terprise and in that particular alone
differs from the transit facilities of
half the big cities of the globe. Local
men of means have put in their money
up to date and will furnish capital till
the line becomes self-supporting. All
the subscribers are residents, though
there has come from abroad during the
past twelve months many applications
for shares in the corporation. Citizens
of substance met and decided three
things. Actually it was only two
things. Condemnation of the existing
imitation of a transit system had long
been a generally accepted fact. Ii was
voted that local money desired to build
a line such as the demands required.
Second, that organization should be on
broad lines and operation on generous
or fair lines. Subscription lists were
opened and the stock taken in Ho-
nolulu. The agreement with the Gov
ernment, said agreement being practic-
ally a part of the charter. with its
every concession suggested by the
company, contains many provisions in
dicating that the promoters of the
transit scheme wish to- have their en-
terprise one that will at all times have
friendship of the public. There will be
quick trips and many of them. The
rates will be fair, with transfers and
with reduced fares for school children
and during the hours of travel for
workingmen. There will also be clean
cars and intelligent service.
1t was stipulated that construction
should begin by this date. July Z. 1899.
Ground was broken yesterday. 1t was
intended to turn the soil on Alapai
street this morning. but Manager Bal
lentyne and others thought best to
start in advance and saw to il that the
beginning of actual construction was
made yesterday on Moana Ala CHa-
waiian for Sea Road or Drive or Street
or Avenue). This is the new Beach
Road to Waikiki. Recently there has
been planted on either side OF Moana
Ala rows of cocoanut palm trees. The
road is now superb drive along the
sea shore and it will be grand travelling
in the electric cars. This will be the
short and the scenic route to the Wal
kiki district
nhere were no ceremonies over the
initiation of the important work. The
beginning of what means so much to
Honolulu was made quietly and mod
estly and in business-like way.
There has been a minimum OF fuss and
feathers about the Rapid Transit Com
panys affairs, so far. In time there
will very properly be some ceremony
This is the only town between San
Francisco and Auckland that is to
have an electric railway for some
time. Such a line means suburban de-
velopment, and all hope it means
amendment or disappearance of the
outfit of the operating company.
The Rapid Transit Company people
have rather felt their way. Manager
Ballentyne, James b. Castle. l.. \.
Thurston and others prominently
identified with the undertaking. spent
time and money abroad investigating.
Experts We're employed and careful
Investigations made. The result is
that electric power will be used. The
and equipment will be
the very best in every particular. Or
ders have been placed for rails. etc.
and shipment is soon to be made.
Money was saved by buying the rails
before the recent advance in iron COM
modities. 1t is likely that the main
power plant site has been fixed upon.
but its location is for a time a pro-
found secret.
The Honolulu Rapid Transit and
Land Company is capitalized for only
100000, and the shares are OF the
value of 500 each. Ten per cent has
been paid in, and there is now out a
call for the payment of a second ten
per cent.
F. ]. Amweg. chief engineer for the
company, left by the steamer Aorangi
yesterday for the Mainland, and will
make extensive purchases OF machin-
cry for the new plant.