The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-06
.FRE|GHTS TO
Be CHEAPER
Observation-Disclosures
Benefits This
Group.
Especial to the Advertiser.)

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 3O-Better
and better grow the prospects for
cheap freights for Hawaii. For years
there has been talk of competing
steamship lines which would cut down
| freight so as to make the profits Of
Hawaiian shippers and merchants
greater but months passed and the
promised lowering did not come Now,
a fierce battle is on between the
Oceanic Steamship Company and the
MISUNDERSTANDING Company. It looks
as if the Islands would profit greatly
by the fight.
| The recently announced cut of ST.
a ton from San Francisco to Honolulu
is to be followed in all probability by
another cut. The managers of both
steamship companies smile at the idea,
and will tell you that the relations of
the corporations are most friendly. But
| the fact that the Oceanic Company
promptly met the reduction of the
American Hawaiian line, shows that
business and not sentiment is controII-
| ing the matter.
The Bulletin says this counter move
left matters in statu quo, as far as any
advantage of one side or the other was
concerned, and now shipping men are
looking toward the competing firm that
| first set the pace to lower freights an
other notch. The lowering is very
likely to come, but will probably be
delayed several months until the new
company is in a better position than at
present to handle the business In the
m N iS IA of lar
steamer being placed on the Honolulu
run, exclusively for freight, by the
Oceanic Company.
The American line has
been for over year preparing to cap
ture a good share of the rapid freight
transportation trade of the Pacific
Starting with the sailing fleet managed
by Williams, DimOnd & Co. of this city
as a basis, plans were laid to put on
dozen or more of the largest freight
steamers in the world. This intention
was rapidly carried out, and the latter
half of last year witnessed several of
the new ships engaged in transporting
sugar from Hawaii to New York, and
general cargoes from the latter port
to San Francisco and Honolulu. But
this was merely preliminary to a bold
stroke and had as it's object the con-
troll of the freight carrying trade be-
tween all Hawaiian ports and this city.
Orders We're given for the building of
additional steamships of great cargo
capacity. Some of the contracts were
let to eastern builders, and the local
Union Iron Works was given the job
of turning out two of the largest of the |
new fleet. The promoters of the enter |
prise had calculated on a large increase |
in trade between the new Island Ter |
ritory and the Mainland.
But the growth of that trade has de- |
veloped to such an extent as to sur |
prise even those shrewd and far-seeing |
business men who had planned the new |
commercial line. Hawaii's imports from |
the United States have increased at a |
surprising ratio. The field was an in |
viting one, and there were rumors of |
a third company putting on freight |
steamers. Then the American Hawaii |
an line chartered the big steamer Hy-
AIDES, at that time a collier, and sent |
her to Honolulu and Hilo. This was
On January 20. simultaneously the an
nouucement was made that the Hyades =
would carry freight at SO. so a ton,
reduction of $3.50 per ton from the
former rate.
The reduction was met by the Spreck-
els people, though this has not affected |
20 any extent the amount of business
IF either company, the freight offered
being irfN excess of the capacity of the
steamers. The Hyades will continue to
'un to Honolulu under charter until
June l. at which time the Nevadan, /
or delivery. This vessel will have a
capacity of 5000 tons of sugar, and
greater weight of general cargo. AS
oon as she can be rushed from New
York to San Francisco, she will be
placed on the Honolulu run. Another |
teamer of equal size and power will T
ollow the Nevadan to the Pacific Coast
ixty days later These two boats will
e used exclusively for the Honolulu T
IAN Francisco trade. Still another
teamer, of much larger carrying ca
acity, is building in the east for the 7
anne concern. At the Union Iron
teamer, is rapidly nearing completion,
nd will be placed in commission with 7
n month. Her sister ship. the Ari
oman, is not so far advanced in CON
truction, but will be ready in about
hree months. 7
AS soon as the Nevadan arrives a
service to Honolulu
ill be inaugurated by the new line. a
tile later there viii be three and per-
APPS four departures per month.
There is a well defined impression in
ocal shipping circles that the Ameri-
ln-Hawaiian Company will place two
r more of its new steamers in the
lanila or Hongkong trade. Mr.. Di- r
lond, of Williams. almond & Co,
hen asked concerning this rumor,
IMPLY stated that the Honolulu bust
ess at present was more than the
ompany could handle. But whether
not the new freighters enter the
rental trade, there is no question W
lat keen competition is to develop 81
stween the Oceanic Company and the
allan business
FREDERTCK O,RRIEN