The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-09-17
B. F. Dillingham;, Pioneer Builder,
Tells of His Struggles
and Success.
HE MADE FIVE PLANTATIONS
Sees No Reason to Destroy In
dustry Now Proven to Try
Unproven Experiment.
(From saturday Adversely

(From Saturday Advertiser)
B. F. Dillingham;, the pioneer railroad
builder Of Hawaii, who came here as a
crippled sailor and is now the presi-
dent of the two main railroad compan-
les in the Territory was the main wit
ness before Secretary Fisher in the in
vestigation yesterday. Mr.. Dillingham;
is the father in.law of Governor Frear
and is mentioned in the charges filed
by the Delegate against the Governor
as one who is favored by the executive
because of that relationship. His
statement yesterday was of particular
interest on that account, but it fur
nished the Delegate and his attorney
with little to gloat over. When the
questions of the counsels finally
reached the connection of the Governor
with the corporations under Mr.. Dill
lingham's control, Secretary Fisher
said that no explanations were neces-
sary and that he was satisfied that the
Governors part in the matter was per-
functory only.
The veteran promoter told in detail
how he had financed and built Dbl
lingham's Folly as the unbelievers in
the early days had christened the o. r.
g. L. railroad, and how he had followed
his success with railroads and planta-
lions ON this island by railroad on
Hawaii, an extension to which is now
tapping one of the richest sections of
the Big Island and Making Hilo
Crow
There were one or two smart little
clashes between Mr.. Dillingham; and
MIR. Ashford over the issuance of pro.
motion stock and the declaring of stock
dividends, in which the older man did
not come off second best. It was no.
ticeable that the attorney for the Dele
gate failed altogether in asking for in
formation along many of the lines COW
cred in the formal charges fled with
the Secretary of the Interior. Nothing
was asked concerning the Hilo wharf,
nor the Hilo station site, although both
are in the charges and have been ia
vorite topics with stump speakers
haranguing against the administration.
"Palama" Rath made statement
concerning Honolulu's submerged
tenth, while A. W. T. Bottomley ex-
planned the details of the cane contract
made between olaa plantation and
small farmers.
DlllluRudlIl 3 fIOulOIiOh
BENJAMIN F. Dillingham;, the pioneer
railroad promoter of Oahu and Hawaii,
gave clear insight into the methods
of pioneering uncultivated lands
through railroad development. Mr..
Dillingham;, in response to questioning
by Secretary Fisher, said he arrived IN
Honolulu in 1865, as the first officer
of the bark Whistler, from San Fran
cisco, and came ashore with broken
leg, treated in the United States ma
rine hospital. Because of his injuries
he was unable to return to sea, and be-
came a clerk in the store of H. Dimond
& Son, conducting general merchan-
disc business. He is interested now in
the Oahu Railroad and Land Company,
of which he is president, and the Hilo
Railroad Company, as president. He
has large holdings in Olaa plantation
and McBryde plantation stock He
stated he had been the promoter of the
largest sugar plantations in the Islands
and was responsible for the Inaugural.
ton of five plantations on the Island OF
Oahu; also one on Kauai and one on
Hawaii.
"The suggestion has been made, !"
said Secretary Fisher "that it would
be helpful if a public utilities commits
sion be organized here to consider com.
plants in regard to the service of all
public utilities. What do you think OF
itf"
'Having had several years of expe:
rience with the Interstate Commerce
Commission, replied Mr.. Dillingham;,
81 believe it would be good both for
the transportation companies and the
shippers. 1t would not only ensure
shippers of fair rates, but would pre-
vent big shippers from seeking unduly
low rates to the detriment of small
shippers. Since 1907 our railroads have
been under the Interstate Commerce
and our books comply with
the system on the mainland
Asked whether if commission were
appointed on proper basis it would
not be benefit to the railroads, Mr..
said he had no objection,
but he did not see how local commits
sion could supplement higher court
by the United States gov
The Secretary explained that it ap-
reared to be well founded on the main
land that these commissions benefited
the railroads. Mr.. Dillingham; agreed
with the idea that the interstate com
merce measure had been a blessing to
both the railroads and the public as
a whole. Even the local commission he
believes the railroads would welcome,
but the railroads would not want
lemagogic commission, but one in
which public sentiment would support
an impartial commission. He believed
the rates of his companies had given
perfect satisfaction.
Mr.. Dillingham; said he was not in
.erested in the Inter-Island steamer
As TO docks owned by the
railroad, Mr.. Dillingham; stated his
company here had developed extensive
iockage facilities and the Hilo Rail
.oad Company had done the same in
lilo harbor. They were not monOpolies
n the slightest degree.
Opening the Lands
Secretary Fisher said he noticed the
abroad company's title showed it to
leal in lands as well as in railroad bust