The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-08-25
he WANTS PEACE
Between Rival Tramway
Lines.
Mr. Pinkhsm Tells Of His Efforts to
Produce Harmony IN Street
Car Circles.

\ new element has entered into the
vexed street railway question. This is
not another proposed competing line,
but on the contrary, peacemaker
working disinterestedly for the public
good. For some time the problem has
ham. manager of the Pacific Hardware
Company. He feels that crisis Is at
hand and the only manner of escaping
1t is to bring about peace and harmony
and consolidation of the rival camps.
Mr.. Pinkham was seen yesterday by an
Advertiser reporter and gave the fol-
lowing statement regarding his action
in connection with the street railway
matter:
las citizen and business man
having large mercantile interests in my
charge, ], last spring felt that the
street railway problem of Honolulu
was being treated in manner that was
both short-sighted and almost fatally
detrimental to the general interests of
the public and the city, both in the
present and the future. II seemed to
me that the plan to divert rapid transit
from Beretania and King streets. which
are the natural arteries of the city, to
side streets would be an incalculable
injury to the mercantile and real estate
interests on those streets and those i'm
mediately adjacent. To an official of
the Rapid Transit Company addressed
letter beginning as follows:
april 4, 1899.
my Dear Sir Relative to the
street railway problem in and for the
city of Honolulu there are four facts
that must be accepted without argu-
ment:
First. Experience has proved that
! the public can be best served by sys-
tens belonging to single control.
Second. That the main thorough
fare must be the ones provided with
street railway facilities.
Third. That franchise has a val
ne II II controls the main thorough
fares. and such value increases as the
city enlarges, and frequently what may
seem excessive valuation in few years
proves conservative.
Fourth. In case of disagreement, es.
pecially where passionate feeling eX
lists. the substitution of a third ele
ment may remove the friction ant
bring about "a settlement conducive I,
public benefit and to the benefit of dis
agreeing parties, who. in the heat o
'wilfulneSs or resentment, jeOpardis,
their own money and the public wei
fare
That all these untoward element
exist in Honolulu cannot be denied
Being greatly impressed with the mis-
fortune of it, | have taken the wises
steps | could think of to bring abou
the opportunity for an amalgamatioI
of all street railway interests.
Our first object was to get the rep
resentatiyes of the Hawaiian Tram
ways, Mr.. w. II. Pain, manager, an,
Mr.. Paul Neumann, attorney, to con
slider some arrangement and 20 over
look the feeling engendered by the Sc
we're structures of the press on the Ha
waiian Tramways and its management
In conversation, Mr.. Pain gave man,
good reasons for the condition of tn,
railway and its service. As a bushes,
proposition, the owners expected some
return; the patronage Of the road came
very largely from u class of patrons who
did not complain, and the patronage
OF those who did complain was not sui
ticient to yield enough revenue to sus
tain the improvements they demanded
Mr.. Pain, however, recognized the facI
that the settled condition of politica
affairs and the prospective growth OF
the city warranted a modern system
and he recognized that the street rail.
way system should be under one man.
agement,, control and ownership. ant
both he and Mr.. Neumann hearth,
agreed that they would use their best
efforts to bring about this desirable
result.
Mr.. Pain stated, however, that HI
had q duty to perform to the owner.
of the Hawaiian Tramways in finan
cial respect; that there were ISSUED
$l5O.OOO OF per cent bonds. on which
the interest was promptly and regu
larry paid; that there was issued 1926,
900 In stock, upon which I per cent wa,
being earned: and that he felt II hi
, duty 10 endorse such a proposition onl,
as would secure To the owners thei
principal eventually.
.. In order to bring about this result
II seemed TO me, the only way II coul,
: be done In justice to all concerned an,
the public, was for the present owner
and their connections to subscribe 10
sufficient bonds TO build and equip al
; the street railways the city OF Honolu
IN would require for many years
Hence II was proposed the bonds b.
issued for q term of 30 years 10 bea
Interest NJ the rate of . per cent 10
the FIRST 10 years and per cent for tn
balance ~ the term. The first amour
Of bonds proposed was $500, oO0i late
the proposal Was 10 make the issn
300 600 The bonds were 10 be issue
as required, but were 10 be- all sub
srribed for by the English parties IN
'torssted IN the present Hawaiian Tram
r Ways, Two hundred thousand dollar
= ~ these bonds we're 10 be issued a. lh
!, owners OF tbs present Tramsays Com
pany In part payment for their plan
ani franchises,