The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-03-17
COL. MACFARLANE
DOUBTS WISDOM OF
STEAMER PLAN
Thinks Big Lines Would Crush Opposition
May Build Modern Apartment House at
the Waikiki Annex, Also Hotel.

Col. G. W. Maefariane, who arrived
in Honolulu on Wednesday, having ac-
companied the Schif party this far from
San Francisco, was seen yesterday in
connection with the reported plans of
Jacob Schiff to establish a direct steam
ship line between this point and San
Francisco.
81 discussed the whole steamship
trade of the Pacific pretty thoroughly
with Mr.. Schiff during the passage, =
said the Colonel * but / do not feel
at liberty to give out the details of our
conversation, it being more or less Of
confidential nature. That he is much
interested in the trade of the Pacific
there is no doubt, yet I do not feel that
he desires to enter into competition
with the existing lines, not even with
the lines running to Victoria, B. c.
s'What I suggested and urged upon
him was the necessity of having
vessels on the Orient and Hons
lulu run, of the Manchuria type, moth
ing less in size or in freight or passen-
ger accommodation. In talking with
him | had only in mind the through
boats. so that we would have vessels
that would more particularly attract
tourists in this direction and be OF
such size that the passenger aecommo-
dations would not be always taxed to
the utmost limit.
"He seemed to recognize the fact
that the stay-over passengers would
help any direct passenger service be-
tween here and the Coast, but he felt
as / did that the Oceanic Steamship
Go. were entitled to the benefits of this
lav-over passenger business, as they
were first in the field here and had GER
tain vested rights / will frankly
state that I do not believe that any
local steamship company running be-
tween here and San Francisco could
compete with the Oceanic or the Pa
cific Mail companies, these being large
corporations and able to crush out COM
petition and meet the increasing needs
of the passenger traffic by building
larger boats than any local company
will be likely to build and as large as
the tourist trade would justify.
81 fully believe that John d. Spreck-
els recognizes the necessity of much
larger boat in the direct Honolulu SER
vice than the Alameda, and If there
were plenty of large steamers under
the American flag available, sufficient
lv modern in type, he would soon place
one on the run double the size of the
Alameda. I know for a fact that they
have been trying to find larger boats
in the East for the service out
here and were it not for the fact
that the American coasting laws
apply to Hawaii he would invest
in one of the latest and best Eng
lish or German boats for this trade. IL
am afraid we are a little ungrateful
towards the Oceanic company, which
has always tried to serve as with as
good a steamer as the trade would war
rant But they have lately been han
dicapped, since the increase IN the pas
senger traffic and the application of the |
coastwise laws since annexation, by |
the fact that there are not available |
steamers under the American flag to |
impress into the Honolulu service. OF |
course I would like to see a local COM
pany running large modern steamer
from this port to San Francisco were |
our trade sufficient to enable two
steamship lines to operate proftably.
=" Mr. Schiff was anxious that | should
talk with r. P. Schwerin, vice president
of the Pacific Mail company, on my re-
turn and discuss with him the points
we had been discussing on the voyage
and to point out to him the advisability
of cooperation with the Oceanic COM
pany to give Hawaii more passenger
accomm odation The necessity of
larger class of ships in the future with
a view. of securing for the American
lines the commerce of the Pacific was
another matter discussed between us.
"That Mr.. Schiff is interested in see
ing frst-class passenger service be-
tween here and the Coast, as he ex-
pressed himself to Prince David, there
IAN be no doubt
THE WAIKIKI HOTEL SCHEME.
cit is reported here that you have !
,een organizing a company to build
mother modern hotel at Waikiki, said
he reporter. do you wish to con-
irm the report ~
81 am not disposed to talk much on
he project just yet" said Col. Mar {
srIane. 1T is we'll known that 1 have ,
'een holding the Waikiki property IN
he future interests of the Hawaiian
-nfG ~ 81 Il II n We