The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-09-02
OCEAN COMMUNICATION.

The footing of many whistles on Hoo
nolulu's waterfront will, In few days,
announce "A new era in the mail serv-
ice to Hawaii, bring pang to the MEM
cries OF the old kamaaina, but joy to
the hearts of modern kanaka oihana
kalena. The improvements made in
modern steamer communication, while
heartily applauded by everyone who
seeks to promote the commerce of the
islands. at the same time gives the old
residents who rejoice in memories of
the picturesque days of mail and freight
communication by clipper ships, whal-
ers and missionary schooners ponder
over the changes that a lifetime has
brought about in ocean traffic.
As far as news facilities are concern
ed the cable will soon outstrip the
steamer; but business interests will
continue to desire quicker mail com
municatior. Many people in Honolulu
can remember the time when the clip
pers used to attract such crowds on
their arrival at the place where the
Oceanic wharf now stands. They re-
member also how eagerly they looked
in the following mornings paper for
the limited column and half of matter
that was supposed to contain the en-
tire news of the world since the last
previous mail. Business men who are
still engaged in trade here can remem-
Der going to the old postotiice building
a half hour after the arrival of clip
per and there finding displayed n state
ment from the captain of the vessel as
to whom his goods We're consigned, the
sort of passage he had had, and list
of the passengers he brought. They
can remember also the departures of
the clippers from Honolulu, the firing
of the vessels gun as she was casting
away from the wharf and the many
alohas OF the people who lived here
Hundreds who worked around the whal-
ing fleets warehouses always ceased in
their labors on the arrival or departure
of a small packet and wished the sail
ors godsDeed.
Missionary schooners and whalers
brought the first news from Boston,
but gradually fast banks We're put on
the trade around the Horn. They
brought mail and cargo TO Hawaii and
they took cargo across to Lower Cali
fornia and Mexico, and on arrival there
changed the vessel into store for the
time being and traded their cargoes of
Hawaiian and Boston products for
hides. They brought the news until
the packets commenced running down
from San Francisco, and then for the
twenty years between 1850 and 1870 the
packets were looked to for mail. Occa-
sional efforts We're made to run steam
ers but ii was late when these expert
ments proved a success and regular
line of steamers was established
II is fitting in this connection to note
that the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany was the first to establish such
line OF vessels calling at Honolulu.
Now its new steamship, the costly
Korea, is the finest and largest steam
vessel afloat in the Pacific, and it is eX-
pected that her speed will be faster
than any Of the other mail steamers.
The Siberia, sister ship to the Korea,
is now nearly ready to start from the
East for San Francisco, and with these
two large steamers plying in the trade
to the Orient and calling at this port.
The benefits to Honolulu should be con-
siderable. The new liners will proba-
bly, attract many passengers for travel
between the Orient and San Francisco.
and these of course are of considerable
benefit to Honolulu because of the stay
they make here. BY it's welcome 10 the
new steamer when she puts in an APP
pearance, Honolulu will probably show
how much it appreciates the faster line
of communication.