The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-01-03
HONOLULU
/ CELEBRATES
CABLE DAY
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4
est of Hawaii. (Applause) Very
| often, as many of the people here know,
it was quite a struggle: few years
ago, / might say, to be an American
| Oaughter), but 1 am happy to say that
| it has gradually worked along until the
! country is all American. My efforts
sometimes were condemned very much,
but am glad to see great many here
that condemned me then, now enjoy
| ing the fruits OF the labor; not of my
self, but of all who were annexation
lists, and through annexation we got the
cable. Now I hope to live to see the
day that we may have the canal, either
| through Tehuantepec or Panama, that
will make us the center OF the Pacific
trade, and that it, too, will be controll-
ed by Americans. l will say nothing
further, because there will be several
gentlemen who are to make remarks,
and can make them very much better
than I. hope to live to see the canal
through, and everything safe" Zap
plause)
General A. s. Hartwell was then in
troduced as one who had been a pio-
neer in the line of cable promotion,
and said:
The greatest event in the history of
Hawaii has occurred today. Now we
have entered into the larger life of the
outer world. It's rich blood courses
unanimously through our veins, we can
hardly stop to look back.
And yet Hawaii has tender memories
for it's past and that is why a few
minutes are given now to it's cable his
tory.
1t is not the fortune of those who
tried years ago to establish Geographic
communication between Hawaii and
the rest of the world, to tell today the
story of efforts crowned with success;
but the fact remains that vigorous eff
forts were made on which high hopes
were bu;lded, and who knows but those
who took part in those early efforts
did the work of pioneers to blaze the
way in which others have walked?
From purely business point of view
it is only very few years since the
establishment Of a cable between Homo
lulu and San Francisco has been re-
garded as worthy Of consideration by
cable experts. Until the recent de-
velopment of trade with China and
Japan any one who attempted to secure
a submarine telegraph cable in the Pa
cific ocean had an opportunity to learn
what leading a forlorn hope was like.
There were kind and sympathetic words
for him from all quarters. Those who
take part in a forlorn hope are usually
encouraged and thought kindly Of by
those who are looking on. But the
experience and not the cable came.
The Atlantic ocean had it's telegraph
cables which came into existence be-
cause there was business to support
them. There were cables which kept
England, France and Germany in con-
tact with their distant colonial posses
sions, and which were constructed and
maintained by the aid of heavy subsi-
dies from their respective governments.
A glance at the map showing all the
telegraph cables Of the world, disclosed
the power of the British empire and the
wisdom of those who controlled it's des-
TIMES; but there was not single line
Of cable in which the United States
had the slightest interest.
The Pacific ocean was as innocent of
cables as the pond of country vii
lage.
HAwAITS NEED OF A CABLE.
From a political point of view, as well
as commercial, there were men m Ha-
wall who had long felt the need of tele-
graphic communication. California was
so identified in business interests with
Hawaii that it's public men and organ
izations were always ready to urge
upon their delegation in Congress
the passage of cable measures, but
neither in Hawaii nor at the coast
was capital ready to embark in the en-
terprise. Hawaii did more than its
part to promote the cable. It's Legisla-
ture passed four distinct cable acts.
First, in 1874, during the ministry of
William L. Green, when an act was
passed to promote the transmission of
intelligence from electricity by any in
corporated company. This act offered
facilities for terminal stations and free
use of the public roads for laying cleo
trio wires. Also exemption from duties
and port charges for cable ships and
materials.
The next act was in November, 1887,
when L. A. Thurston was Minister of
the Interior, when the first exclusive
franchise with a subsidy was author
lied. The act authorized an exclu-
sive franchise and an annual subsidy
of $4,000 for fifteen years. I'm
der that act Mr.. Audley Coote of Tas-
mania obtained a cable contract which
came to nothing.
In December, 1890, another act was
passed similar to that of 1887, author
izing an exclusive franchise and an
annual subsidy of $4,000 a year for
fifteen years. A cable contract under
this act was taken to Washington, plac-
ed at the disposal of the United States
government, and was instrumental in
securing an appropriation by the SEN
ate of the United States of the sum of
So, 900, payable over period of If
teen years in sums of $3.50, 600 annually,
to any company with which the Presi-
dent of the United States should con-
tract, for laying and maintaining a sub
marine cable between California and
the Hawaiian Islands. This measure, |
however, was rejected in the House. |
Finally, in 1895, a cable act was passed |
in Hawaii which authorized the Pres
ldent OF Hawaii, by consent of the Cab |
met to enter into a cable contract with |
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