Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-20
CHARLES F. WOOD MAN
BEHIND new H|LO LINE
Breakwate Magnate Used Power to Steer ConneSS Fran
chSe Bill Through CongreSS-Interest Will Be Revealed
With Filing OF Partnership Papers

Charles F. Wood, of the Break.
water Company of Philadelphia, is
The man behind the HiTo Street Rail
way franchise and the proposed elec.
tric power system there.
Confirmation of this will be forth.
coming in a day or two when the in
corporation papers of the company
formed 10 finance The project are
filed with the Territorial treasure.
and may held TO solve the mystery
nf bow the enterprise, apparently of
the "shoe-string" variety, mas been
carried through successfully and as
surcs the town of Hilo a real live
street railway system.
Ever since the first bill for street
railway franchise in the city of HiIo
was introduced in the legislature of
1911, the man behind it, has been
more or less of a mystery. L. s. Con.
ness, who did the work of getting the
bin through the Legislature would
trace his backing only to W. II. John.
son of the Hawaii Herald and to him.
self. Consequently the scheme was
looked upon as ain effort to get a
franchise and sell ii, as neither Con
ness nor Johnson pretended to be mil
lionaires or street railway builders.
After the franchise was worked
through the Legislature it was
:hoyght that It would surely fail in
Washington, as neither of the appli-
cants was presumed to have the back
ing or acquaintance in Washington.
necessary to pull such a measure
through in busy session of Congress.
There was also pretty lively opposi.
lion. which was expected to block the
franchise in washington, ii not here
in. Hawaii. ~
Eut all the predictions failed Con.
ness went on TO Washington, and
came back with the franchise ap
proved by Congress Then the know.
ing ones figured that the Impossible
ity of the road and Hilo's hopes. fol
the future influenced the kindly mem
bers of Congress to treat the plain
citizens of Hilo and the modest fran
chise applicants to an opportunity.
whether anything came Of il or MOI.
1t now comes out that "Breakwater
Woods, with his live-wire tactics that
had already surprised the local build
ers of breakwaters. was the man be
hind il all. Mr. Woods financial con-
nections are OF the best and his bust
mes acumen and financial capability
we're sufficient to carry the things
through.
Just why he did not come into the
open at the time OF the original appli
cation has not yet been explained
Wood didn't made much noise when
he first came to the islands to look
into breakwater construction here
The fact that Wood does not make
much noise before hand is no indi,
cation that he lacks ability or that
he is asleep at Waikiki. Apparently
he has become convinced of the Ger,
tainties OF the future for Hilo and
Hawaii in general and believes that
when the Hilo Harbor is completed
and the railway extensions carried
through on the big island there will
be "a wealth of opportunity for trans,
portation expansion, and good return
ON transportation investments
1T begins to look as if this was my
home" said Mr.. Wood the other day
in Speaking of his intention of re-
CONTINUED on Page 81