The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-12-15

]
ever advances were decided upon by
the transcontinental railroads.
Naturally, the announcement in yes
terday's Chronicle" of a general in
crease of rates to meet the threatened
tariffs of the transcontinental lines,
was a positive sensation in the bust
ness world.
General Freight Agent Allen NJ. SUIT
ton, when asked by a shipper whether
the report of the proposed advance
was correct, replied in effect: 81 did
not say what the Chronicle said
said Notwithstanding he admitted
| that the increase would be made. sug-
! costing that westbound rates would be
advanced first. He did not deny that
eastbound rates would be increased
nor did he descant at length when
asked whether shippers were expected
| to absorb the advance on commodities
which have already been quoted under
| existing tariffs.
ARGUMENT OF SHIPPERS.
Shippers are ready to meet Whatever
arguments may be onered by the
steamship company in refutation OF the
/ ostensible traffic agI cement with the
transcontinenta railroads. one says
that according to the American
Hawaiian Company, its steamers are
now carrying IS per cent cargoes.
With the increased diferential created !
by the advance of rail rates, argues |
this man, the steamers might easily |
carry full cargoes. Moreover, he says |
If the steamship company would avoid
making an increase of its rates, there
would be no limit to the development
of its business. In year or two the
enormously enlarged tonnage would
require many additional steamers.
1T seems absurd" said he ito sug-
gest that this is a voluntary advance
of rates. Ordinarily ideas of business
would encourage the company to fol-
low the lead of the railroads and to
get all the commodities would bear
But in this instance the circumstances
are entirely different The steamers
= are not carrying full cargoes. That is
here is familiar. And in following
the advances of the railroads, the COM
pany will occupy relatively the same
g position it does now. When the new
II rates go into effect, it will carry what
e 1t is carrying nOw-whatever is left
= by the railroads And the steamers
II will continue to load but IS per cent
:, cargoes. 1t, to me, is perfectly OBJ
= vious that the American-Hawaiian
Company has been forced into this ad-
e vance of rates.
- The almost nervous interest in the
e conduct of the American Hawaiian
Company is due largely to the fact that
l. in its few years of existence It has
e proved a wonderful factor in Western
n commerce. The company began some
: what modestly with a small fleet of
5. vessels. It's growth was prodigious,
l. however, and within a few years it
o had acquired an Immense fleet of
X steamships, ranging in tonnage from
" the Nevadan, 5000, to the Alaskan,
lie 10000. In 1907 it added to the fleet
- the Maine and Missouri, two II .OOO-ton
lie vessels which were purchased from the
Atlantic Transportation Company. At
l. the time Of this purchase three steam
d ers were building, the Mexican, Column
lie bian and lsthmian. These have now
a been added to the fleet, which has an
lie aggregate tonnage of more than TO-
r 600.
THE TEHUANTEPEC ROUTE.
% Last year the company performed the
lie well-night marvellous feat of conveying
u freight from San Francisco via Te-
u huantepec to New York in less time
III than the shipments could be made by
1t rail. With such excellent service and
III such adequate facilities for handling
traffic the company soon made its in
fiuence felt by the railroads, especially
at by the lines which dominate the West
~ ern country.
At By the perfection of its Tehuantepec
20 route it was enabled to develop an
a enormous commerce, which took mil
b. lions of dollars from the transconti-
1t mental lines. A triangular service was
lie maintained from Salina Cruz the Ha-
is waiian islands and Pacific Coast ports
k. In addition a fleet was kept in the At
T. lantic to carry freight from Coatzacoal-
1t cos, the Gulf terminus of the Tehuan-
n tepec National Railroad, to New York
d and other ports on the Atlantic sea
70 board. A fabulous income was derived
TO from sugar movements from the islands
lie and splendid patronage was given
he the company in east-bound and west,
Dt bound shipments of freight from the
Of Pacific to the Atlantic and vice versa
Of Consequently, the company became
,. distinguished as an independent fac
Id tor IN the development of the West
40 ] ghinppra hava raaardad tho thraatauaa