The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-06-25
HOW HARTMAN
LOST LAUNDRY
MIR. Lightfoot Relates Story OF
the Sanitary's Gobbling
Feat.
June %. 1907.

June %, 19oI.
Editor Advertiser: The Sunday Adj
vertiser of this date contains, in the
locals, a statement that the Sanitary
Steam Laundry ''gobbled' the Hartman
Steam Laundry, and that Mr.. Hartman
intends to open new laundry. Think
ing that the ''gobbling" process might
interest some of your readers, I ask
space in your paper for the following
statement:
Mr.. Hartman was employed by the
Sanitary at a small salary in Septem-
Der, 1905. Previous to that time he had
been employed by the Metropolitan
Meat Company, and knew nothing
about the laundry business. He was
intelligent and industrious, however,
and his salary was increased from time
to time without any request on his
part. When he desired vacation to
go East the Sanitary allowed him leave
of absence on full pay and advanced
him the money to go and return.
About the middle of last year Mr..
Hartman then being manager of the
Sanitary became convinced that an
other laundry was needed in Honolulu
to do a different class of work from
that done at the Sanitary, that is, to
put domestic" dull finish, upon the
goods.
Mr.. Hartman did not have cent of
capital for the proposed new enterprise,
but having at that time confidence in
his judgment in laundry matters, Mr..
Magoon and myself entered into CO.
partnership with him to engage in the
new enterprise under the name of the
Hartman Steam Laundry Articles
of co-partnership were signed contain
ing, among others, the following prpvi-
sion:
no partner shall. during the period
of ten years from this date, engage,
directly or indirectly, in the laundry
business in the Territory of Hawaii.
other than that at present engaged
3 without the consent in writing
of all the partners"
Mr.. Hartman purchased the machin-
cry and started the new laundry, but
at a cost far exceeding the highest es-
Inmates.
The Hartman Laundry had only been
running short time when it became
perfectly evident that the domestic, or
dull, finish was not liked by the GUS
toners, many of whom, having tried
the Hartman, returned to the Sanitary,
and the Hartman Laundry ran at a
great loss.
While things were in this condition, |
Mr.. Hartman was seized with a vio-
lent hemorrhage which seriously |
his life, and made it appar-
ent that he could not endure the strain |
and worry of the enterprise, which, it
was clear, was doomed to failure, and |
It was finally determined, with the
hearty approval of Mr.. Hartman, to |
close it.
An arrangement was made whereby |
the machinery of the Hartman Laun-
Try should be transferred to the San /
tary and the Sanitary should assume
the debts of the partnership and Mr.. |
Hartman should go back to the SAM
AIRY as its manager at the salary which |
ne was receiving prior to the establish
nent of the Hartman.
Mr.. Hartman had resumed his posi-
ton as manager of the Sanitary for but
/ short time when he made a demand /
,or an increase of salary, which was
refused, and thereupon Mr.. Hartman,
stating that on account of his i'll
health it was necessary for him to leave
he islands, resigned, but requested /
hat his salary should continue to June
70. as he could not get away before the
beginning of July. This request was
granted.
Partly because Mr.. Hartman was too
II to look after the business, and part
Y for other reasons not necessary to |
mention here, Mr.. Hartman was re-
ieved of the management of the SAM
AIRY about the middle of May, still
With the agreement that his salary
should continue to June 80.
Mr.. Hartman visited the laundry and |
lad access to the books until Thurs
lay of last week, when it was found
hat he was attempting to float an
'ther new laundry company, and pre-
ending to use figures showing the
workings of the Sanitary. Thereupon I
Mr.. Hartman was ordered to leave the