The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-12-27

| LOS ANGELES, December a.
Forced to leave the mainland in its
search for timber for railroad uses,
the Santa Fe Company has just con-
tracted for 100000 ties in Hawaii
the biggest order ever placed for such
material to be shipped in by water.
1t is expected that the Hartman
lines will make similar contracts. Sec
rotary Virgins of the Chamber of
Commerce said yesterday that this is
the one incentive needed to induce
local capitalists to start the steam
ship line between San Pedro and Ho-
nolulu, project often earnestly dis
cussed.
Assurances are given that the plan
for such a line of vessels is to be
taken up with renewed energy. 1t
was stated yesterday by W. B.
Thomas, a prominent grower of pine
apples in Hawaii, now here on visit.
that capitalists of the islands are
ready and anxious to have a part
in the organization of a company to
establish a San Pedro-Honolulu line.
1t may be that the Santa Fe itself
will establish the line. The railroad
company is said to be negotiating with
the Oceanic Steamship Company for
the purchase of the steamships ST.
ezra, Sonoma and Ventura, to be con-
verted into oil burners and to operate
between the islands and San Pedro,
mainly to bring the ties to these
shores, but also to engage in general
freight and passenger business.
AFTER HARTMAN BID.
R. w. Shingle of Honolulu, principal
owner of the timber lands on the Is
land of Hawaii from which the ties
are to come, has just gone East to
confer with E. H. Hartman, hoping
to induce him to place a large tie
order for the Southern Pacific and
other lines. Mr.. Single was to have
come to Los Angeles before going to
New York, but he was taken i'll in
San Francisco and was obliged to
make the Eastern trip first. He is
expected here within few weeks.
The ties for which the Santa Fe has
contracted are cut from ohia timber,
otherwise known as Hawaiian mahog-
any. 1t is used extensively in the
manufacture of furniture in the is
lands 1t is extremely durable, and
experiments that have been carried
on for a number of years are said
to have proved its great value as tie
timber. The 5000. 900 ordered will
weigh about sO,OOO.oOO pounds, it is
estimated.
The supply is enormous, its cost is
relatively low, and the discovery of
its value in railroad building is looked
upon as a great find by the transpor-
tation companies, especially those in
the West, where oak ties, once 50
common in the East, can be delivered
only at great cost because of the long
rail haul. Many unsatisfactory sub
stitutes are used here-redwood for
one-but the constant expense of re-
newing such ties is enormous.
The ohia timber, or koa, is looked
upon as the coming tie, and the pre-
diction is made that it Will be only a
short time before thousands of miles
of railroads in the West will be laid
with this product of the Hawaiian Is
lands.
FAvORS SAN PEDRO.
To save the long rail haul Of 452
miles from San Francisco to Barstow.
as compared with III miles from Los
Angeles to Barstow. the Santa Fe nat
uralfy looks with greater favor on San
Pedro as the port from which to re-
ship the ties, and it is not considered
strange that the company should dis
cuss the advisability of buying three |
or more steamers to engage in the !
trade between Honolulu and San Pc
dro, especially as much other freight !
and many passengers may be handled !
in both directions
IF there were sugar refinery at
San Pedro, there would be sufficient |
business at once, without the Santa