Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-10-24
MANAGER SCAWER|N
SENDS FROST LETTER
Says Local Steamship
Would Never
Pay

ht ltNNiN'u NlN
Chamber OF Ccnntite from II. p.
Schweril genera manager of the T'a-
ciiic Mai, Steamship Company regard
ing an improved passenger service be-
tween these Island ard the mainland,
throws dash of c,lG water upon any
Ly the local body.
Manager Schwerin's answer to the
circular letter OF the Chamber of Com
merce follows:
San Francisco. October 16. 1907.
Honolulu Chamber of Commerce, Ho-
nolulu.
Gentlemen letter of August
29th is received and | note all you
state in regard to the state Of affairs
having become SO intolerable to the
commercial interests of the Hawaiian
community that there is strong
movement on foot to petition both the
President and Congress for relief and
asking for a suspension of the coast
wise shipping law, as It applies to pas
senger traffic between the islands and
the mainland: also that before taking
action towards this end the Honolulu
Chamber of Commerce requests re-
| ply to certain questions, which | am
pleased to answer categorically.
First This company has no def
mite plans and does not contemplate
inaugurating and maintaining any
local boat between the Hawaiian Is
lands and San Francisco at the pres
ent time.
Second: II sugar freights were
guaranteed II would not warrant the
action suggested In the second ques-
lion.
THAT your committee may have an
opportunity to judge Nwhat you are
asking I enclose you a detailed state
ment of the earnings and expenses OF
steamer, such as would be required
to fill the conditions of question one,
running between the islands and the
mainland and making one round trip
Il month or a total of twelve trips per
annum. The earnings as shown con-
templete the maximum earning capa-
city of vessel, both in passengers and
frcights outward and homeward. This
statement is based upon very careful
analysis of the actual operations of a
vessel and If your committee can find
any inducement in this venture
should be very pleased to have them
Point II out. The cost of vessel to
hll your requirements would be $2,500.-
900.
IL can assure you have been deeply
interested In the promotion of the
American bottom In the foreign trade
and | should be greatly pleased II the
capitalists of the Hawaiian Islands
would build and operate American
vessels between the islands and the
mainland, such as you suggest, and
believe It would no doubt be Of great
VALUE and comfort to the travelling
public, who would enjoy them just 50
long as the capitalists would be will
ing to put up the necessary funds to
keep them in operation. There Is not
steamer that crosses the Atlantic to-
Iday that could be maintained were II
lot for the enormous steerage bust.
ress, coupled With the government
subsidy. Deprive these vessels of the
steerage business and they will cease
10 operate. The only thing that has
kept the San Francisco line has beer
the Asiatic business. II this business
is killed off II will be impossible tc
operate these large steamers on this
run, for even with a full cabin list
and full freight they will not earn OPP
Grating expenses let alone the ex'
penses of operating the agencies.
"If there Is any further Information
can give you on this subject shall
he very pleased to do SO; but as {
straight business proposition 1t woult
be absolutely impossible to undertake
to operate line between here ant
Honolulu of the class Of vessel or yes
sells you suggest
yours truly,
"R. P. SCHWERIN,
"Vice Pres. g. Gen. Mgr"
Accompanying the letter from Man
oger Schwerin Is detailed statemen
showing the earnings of steamer will
an average load Of freight and fai
sized list of passengers. He gives tn
earnings at $l,071, 1OS4S and the ex
lenses 1920, 1864, leaving a profit o
$50, 241.S4.
The above figures are based on