The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-03-11
Inter-Island Happenings

HILO, March THE franchise
craze has struck Hilo full tilt.
So far, to the Tribune's knowledge,
there are three different sets of pro-
moters in the field, and there Is no
telling how many more will join the
merry race before the session is over.
The first real blow was struck by
Editor CONFESS, of the Herald who,
together with w. H. Johnson, the prin.
cipal owner of that paper, is seeking
a franchise for a railway, light and
power company.
1t can not be ascertained here what
capital is behind this concern. John
son stated, in answer to a question
in this regard, that CONFESS had tolu
him that there was plenty of capital,
Honolulu and Hilo money both, behind
the measure. He could not say who
the capitalists in question were.
Norman Lyman is another franchise
seeker Last week he went to Homo
lulu double-Quick to get his bill in
troduced.
The Lyman bill, according to the
best information obtainable on the
subject, proposes a street railway
franchise only, and does not ask for
the right to sell power and light. 1t
asks to cover more ground than does
the Conness-Johnson bill, particularly
in the direction of Puma and Kauma-
ma. 1t does not ask for tax exemption,
but proposes to give a certain per-
centage of the gross earnings (prob-
ably five per cent? to the county. The
company also binds itself to maintain
arc lights on the corners of the streets
of Hilo at it's own cost. The life OF
the franchise will be thirty-tive years,
and it is stipulated that work must be
begun within two years after Con-
gress has approved of the franchise,
and that the company must have in
operation five miles of line within a
year after work has been commenced
It is not known what capital there
is behind Lyman, but it is stated that
in case he can not secure local cap
ital, he figures on securing funds from
Chicago through his uncle from that
city, who recently visited here.
Finally A. NJ. Cabrinha and some o.
his friends are after a franchise.
Cabrinha expressed surprise tina
the Tribune should have obtained in
formation in regard to his venture anC
the employment of capital from Seat
tie. He admitted frankly, however
that it was true that he was figurin
on working with capital from tn
mainland, in case he secured a frau
chise.
ITO tell you the truth, neither
nor my local associates have any MOI
capital in the proposition than wi
be necessary for us to be officers {
the corporation, though l will posses
full power of attorney to act for tn
mainland capital which l will repr
sent.
THE franchise which we are seel
ing is considerably more comprehel
sive than that which was asked fC
already. 1t is our intention to pre-
vide for a system which will gro
with the development of the cit
which is bound to come. Thus we pla
to build the line as far as Honol
gulch, and, furthermore, to have
branch of this line run up the K5
wiki road, distance of about a mi
and half. This branch we plan
construct right away, in case we IaI
the franchise.
'"Then we also plan to run our lii
up the Kaumana road, but a conside
able distance further mauka than t
other franchise-seekers plan to r.
theirs. Our reason for so doing Ii
in the fact that have secured optic
for a couple of large tracts of la
which, If they can be connected wi
the center of the two by means
rapid transportation facilities, "
make the finest residence tract of t
town. AS matter of fact, we ha
b zen preparing for this for sometil
past.
i"Our franchise will provide that
can build our road four miles out alo
the Volcano road.
1--WE have our capital with us ril
now, and we expect to go ahead W
the construction within six mon
after we have gotten our franchi
if we do get it,"
Finally there has been some t
that certain Honolulu capitalists W