Hilo tribune., 1905-02-07
WILL GIVE HEARING.
Directors win he Heard Before
Grnnting Extension 10 Mr.. Peek.

"NI'''VhN WIZ wv ~
Grnnting Extension 10 Mr.. Peek.
while in Honolulu last week Mr.. Phi
lip Peck, President Of the Kohala & Hilo
Railway, had an interview with Governor
Garter regarding the matter Of granting
an extension to the present promoters to
enable them to complete their arrange
ments for financing the road. The Cover
o has ordered a public hearing to be
held in Honolulu on Tuesday, February
r4th, as will appear from public adver-
tisement in another column.
ut seems" said the Governor in re-
ferring to the matter, 'that the franchise
required the Kohala Railroad Company
to finish certain work within two and a
half years after the approval Of the sur
vey Of the road, and this time expires
about in April. Mr.. Peck wants an ex-
tension of time in order to be able to do
the work. He has already lone a great
deal towards the project. A complete
survey has peer made of the line, which,
while it will go through Hilo and Hama
kua districts, as far as Waipio l think,
and traverse the richest lands in the Is
lands, will offer a great many engineer
ing difficulties. The numerous deep gull
ches which cut up these districts will
have to be bridged. The estimate Of the
cost of bridges alone is a very large one.
The company has also gotten a large
number Of rails on the spot and Mr.. Peck
says he will very soon be able to go ahead.
The reason why the work has not been
completed has been that certain firms
failed, but now Mr.. Peck expects to hear
in the near future from a combination of
New York capitalists, who are to interest
themselves in the road.
81 told Mr.. Peck that it was most GER
tainly to the advantage Of the community
to have the road, but before granting the
desired extension of time, I should want
to hear all sides of the matter. If after
this it appears that Mr.. Peck and his as
sociates are more likely to build the road
than anyone else the extension will be
granted. If, however, there are others
in the field who can show better qualif-
cations no extension will be granted.
1.-THE present company is of course
already in possession of certain great adj
vantages, which a new company would
have to gain before it could start on the
work, and is thus just so much ahead OF
all others. The company obtained its
franchise from Congress and has also
been released from the blanket franchise
which the Dillingham-Olaa railroad has
over the entire island of Hawaii.
ITO settle the matter and to give all
parties interested in the matter a chance
to nave their say for or against the grant.
ing of the time extension l have given
instructions to advertise for a public
hearing, which will be held here on Feb
ruary ID. All interested can attend thi.
meeting personally or send In their view.
by letter. The date has been set for Feb
ruary ID so as to have the hearing before
the session of the Legislature begins"
Mr.. Peck claims that the delays which
have occurred are not chargeable to him
but are the result of conditions In which
he found the road when he took hold o
the project for the purpose Of financing
it. He has expended a considerable sun
in the preparation Of surveys, estimates
of cost and several trips to the Coast ant
the East In the interest of the enterprise
He feels, however, that the purpose o
securing a public hearing Is simply al
effort on the part of certain parties, who's,
claims have not been satisfied, to furthe
embarass his financial operations in the
East. In his conference with the Cover
nor he expressed his entire willingness
to submit the matter to public approval
whether this public utility should be fur
ther delayed by refusing him an exten
sion Of time. Mr.. Peck has confidence
in the ultimate success of his negotiation
with eastern capitalists, who have tn
matter we'll in hand, and will shortly de
termine whether or not they will take tn
: whole or part of the bond issue. In tn,
| meantime an opportunity will be give
. the directors, If there are any, to MI
Peck's management of the affair, to e,
> press themselves.