The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-10-10
STEAMSHIP SERVICE
CONTINUED from Page oneJ

The following are the replies re-
ceived:
The Matson Company's reply is as
follows.
1--WE would now acknowledge receipt
of your favor of the 29th of August,
relative to the possibility of the in
auguration and maintenance on om
part of a first-class local steamer of a
passenger capacity of 300 passengers,
to operate on a four-weekly schedule
at speed of not less than sixteen
knots.
I'VE appreciate the unfortunate con-
ditions of affairs relative to the trans
portation of passengers between here
and the main land as they exist at the
present time At the same time, it Is
matter for serious consideration to
secure or have built and maintain and
operate a steamer of the passenger re-
quirements and speed indicated by
you, considering the present available
freighting business offering and rates
now being paid for the transportation
of Cargoes between here and the main
land, and, in our opinion, a question
as to whether investment in such prop
erty would be profitable, under the
present conditions.
I'm reply to your inquiry, we would
state that the only present plans that
we have along the line of increasing
our present freight and passenger SER
vice between here and San Francisco
is adding to the present fleet of the
company a new steamer of the freigh-
ter type, capable, however Of accom-
modating forty-two fiTst-class passen-
gers and expect to make the voy-
age between the two ports in seven
days. 1t is anticipated that this YES
sci will be available for service by the
first of May of next year.
very truly yours,
"MATSON NAVIGATION COMPANY.
CASTLE & COOKE, LIMITED.
&c. D. TENNEY,
"ViCe President,
Agent"
The Oceanic Steamship Company's
letter is as follows:
I'VE beg to acknowledge receipt of
| your communication of August 29th,
requesting information as to our plans,
if any, relative to improvements Of
| local steamship service to Honolulu,
and would state that we do not believe
that there is sufficient passenger bust
ness in sight to justify such an outlay
as would be represented in a passenger
vessel of the type referred to by you.
Even such a vessel sailing every four
weeks would have to split the passen-
| ger traffic with the steamships at pres
ent operating, and although the guar
antee of a sugar cargo would be very
tempting, such boat as you propose,
! (and nothing less would improve the
situation any would cost about 81,
900, 900, and even though full of cargo
at present rates, she would require not
less than four hundred passengers per
round trip to make her pay a reason
able profit, and we do not believe that
amount of travel would be available to
her each trip.
IF the coming Congress adopts
measures to properly substitute YES
sells, no doubt a decided improvement
will speedily result in your lines of
communication.
Very truly yours,
OCEANIC STEAMSHIP COMPANY,
JOHN D. SPTECKELS,
President"
Other replies were:
Boston, Mass, Sept. Is, 1907
81 have to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of the 9th instant ad-
dressed to Mr.. Andrew w. Preston,
president of this company. Mr.. Pres
ton is in Europe at the present time,
but on his return your communication
will be handed to him. 1t is extremely
doubtful, however, if this company
would care to consider the extension
of it's interests to the Hawaiian Is
| lands.