Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-05-07
STEAMSHIPS AID TOURISTS

Improvement of the steamship SER
vice with a view to offering more at
traCtive rates for tourists is always a
timely topic for the business men of
this city. So many of the efforts of
the past have either been half-hearted
at the outset or final failures for want
OF return cargoes to the Coast, that
the task seems hopeless, but unfailing
energy and constantly keeping at it
ought to bring about changes that will
ne Of advantage to the territory and
make the rates of travel more attrac-
tive.
Honolulu is completely in the hands
Of the steamship companies, which Will
not reduce their fares II they can make
a fair profit and I'LL their steamers at
the present rate. This Is an ordinary
business proposition that must be taxi
en- as basis TO work from at the out
set. With the new liners now calling
at this port the service given travellers
has been improved hundred per cent
In the last five years. The advantage
in increased tourists has not been as
marked as was hoped for. The pas
senger fare furnishes one reason Tor
this; custom another.
ANY tourists can reach Hawaii at a
very reasonable rate If they are willing
to travel second cabin, which on the
larger boats furnishes accommodations
almost ii not quite equal to the first
cabin service OF past history. Custom
however, works against the second
cabin idea. For some reason, the aver
age passenger who would travel second
cabin In crossing the Atlantic feels
that he must take passage in the first
cabin when crossing the Pacific. Why
this should he Is difficult to explain
unless 1t be the supposition that pas
sengers to Pacific ports are measured
in social and business circles by the
yard-stick of first or second class
tickets. II the business men or the
social leaders or the tourist promoters
could inaugurate a movement TO place
the second cabin OF the Pacific on the
same social plane as the second cabin
Of the Atlantic, there would be less oc-
casiOn TO complain. This may appear
impractical, but with Honolulu finances
In present condition 1t can hardly be
classed as more chimerical than the
proposal for the merchants to start an
independent steamship line.
When We get down to the actual
brass tack discussion the merchants
of this city will be slow to start in
with straightout opposition TO the
steamship companies represented loo
ally by plantation agencies that have
trade favors TO dispense. Results must
be brought about by cooperation.
Wholesalers and retailers, agencies and
merchants are too closely tied up to
each other to make II probable that
any contest between these interests
would be sustained for any lengthy
period.
Another matter TO be taken into con-
sideration Is the ever present posi-
bility that active loca. opposition TO
Oriental liners because OF a refusal to
lower steamer fares might result In
Honolulu being cut out altogether and
the community find its last condition
worse than the first.
The most practical solution that has
yet been offered is the suggestion that
the American-Hawalia line be APP
preached with a view to fitting its
steamers to carry passengers-provid-
ed, OF course, that having fitted the
ships It will not find high passenger
fares a necessity. Here is a line that
has the freight. Its boats are COM
Portable though not elegant and make
the trip in good time. Fitted for pas.
sengers these ships would be on the
same plane as the fruit liners of the
West Indies and many liners OF the At
lantic that are first freighters but carry
passengers at lower rate than the lux
uIious passenger liners.
The Bulletin believes that under pres
ent conditions business men are chas-
ing rainbows when talking of backing
new opposition lines, though there is
no reason why comfort should be re-
fused any line that will make Homo
lulu port OF call. A steamship con-
test costs money. Outsiders will not
spend money for love OF a fight and
the local merchants are not yet strong
enough financially to supply the back
bone for an independent line that will
emf ratag