The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-26
GOSSIP AMONG
THE LONDONERS
American Rapid Transit Invest.
ments---South Africa and
Nicaragua Canal.

NEW YORK, Jan. 18.-A dispatch to
the Tribune from London says: The
details of the purchase of the Baker
Street and Waterloo railway by a syn
dictate of Chicago and Cleveland CAPT.
talists headed by ex-Congressman
Johnson are drawn mainly from out
siders who refused to buy the project
ed line and are not trustworthS. The
property has evidently been hawked
about and the transactions are not
closed. The passage of a second metro
politan transit scheme under the con-
troll of American capitalists is regard
ed with Indifference by investors mere.
The transit problem is so complex and
the cost of construction of the various
deep level enterprises lis SO heavy that
the assistance of American engineers
and capitalists is welcomed. While the
metropolitan and district railways have
been driven by competition to subsu-
tute electric traction for steam, it is not
yet certain that the operation of cleo
trio railways at deep levels is profitab bic
or that radical changes in the system
of hauling trains may not be requisite.
The traction system, both the Central
London and Waterloo and City, may be
considered tentative, since the strain
upon rolling stock and permanent way
is excessive, and the expense of repairs
from wear and tear unusually heavy.
English investors are not yet convinc-
ed that electric railways are good pay
ing properties and are willing to have
American capitalists take as large a
share of the risks as they like.
Although English public opinion, is
steadily veering around toward the
view taken in America on the Near
aqua canal question, there is no get
/ ting away from the fact that Senator
Morgan's proposals are not relished in
this country The Post admits the val
| ue of the inter-oceanic canal for the
commerce OF the United States and
| thinks that the matter might have been
arranged long ago, as foreign countries
would readily concede to America a
predominant voice in the settlement of
| the question. This paper, however,
(which caters especially for the aristo-
,cratic classes, finds fault with the
tAmerican system of dealing with inter-
national questions.
/ Recruiting for the Yeomanry requir-
ed for service in South Africa has start
ed off actively and five thousand men
will be easily obtained at five shillings
per diem for any period. This force of
good riders and marksmen is precisely
what is needed for the fox hunting
now going on in the Dutch territories,
but complaint is made by military men
that a call for volunteers ought to have
| been made long time ago and it would
| have been at least two months before
the Yeomanry is recruited, properly
| horsed and ready to embark for the
Cape. Foresight has not been char
Iacteristic trait of the present govern
ment in ordering the details of the cam
paign. Military critics cannot under
stand why the 10000 seasoned troops
tnow in India have not been ordered to
South Africa to take the places of war
worn and exhausted battalions. An
exchange of this kind could be easily
effected and would not be expensive.
The air is full of criticism that the
elections were ordered in good time.
A CABINET COUNCIL.
II