Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-27
THINKS STEAMER RATES
ARE TOO HIGH

Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletin,
Sir: From a prominent item in yoUr
PAPER of the 2I5t inst, the public is
informed that there Is 10 be a bona
fide investigation Of the rates charged
by the Inter-Esland Steam Navigation
Co. This will, no doubt, be welcome
news to all concerned, and the hives
tigation should not stop there. but is
sorely needed in connection with NUM-
erous other unreasonable charge s
maintained in and about the islands.
rot the least of which is the minimum
first-ciass t?D INSIDE ROOM charge Of
$65 single or $110 round-tTip from
the coast The latter rates almost
discourage traffic from the mainland.
and instead of 1000 or 5000 tourists
here continuously, there are but a few
hundreds at any one time. The Inter
island freight and passenger rates
and service practically prohibit con-
siderable business between the islands
and thus not only their boats are all
too frequently poorly patronized. but
the hotels, stores, and other places
of business, on the other islands, are
deprived of many thousands Of dol
lars monthly that would certainly be
theirs in increased business were the
tourists and home people encouraged
, to travel, through rates being reduced
to an equal. with those of Other c'Vi-
!ized communities. For examples: the
round-trip of over 1000 miles, including
So miles OF railroad, between Los An
geles and San Francisco, costs, includ-
| ing meals and berth, but $3.50, by
several of the big boats of the Pacific
Coast Steamship Co. and but $3.50
by the elegant, fast Harvard and Yale:
also 1873 miles between Cleveland and
/ Buffalo. all-night run. but $500 inciud-
| ing room; also $50 miles between New
! York and Albany. all-night run. but
SOC to $1.00, room $1.00 extra; also
1900 miles. Boston to jamaica West
Indies, including room and meals on
boat, hotel and carriage on land, 4
days trip, but $3.50 total. Compare
these rates with the one of $25 for
| round trip of less than 400 miles to
/ Hilo, and proportionate eXtortions to
the other islands in this group. Those
I responsible for the unreasonable
, prices may offer the argument that
! there are not enough people and traf
! fic here to justify the proper reduc
ton. Nor will there ever be, so lons
, as their money will purchase two Oh
| three times as much in other coun
| tries.
The solution to the teal develop
ment and up-building of your islands
| is, first, reduce your passenger rates
! from San Francisco to $40 single, SIC
round trip, freight rates proportion
| ately; second, cut Inter-lsland fares
| and freight to less than half the pres
ent charges. This will quickly in
crease the number of tourists, the 10
cal passenger and freight traffic and
business in general in the islands from
| 500 to 1000 per cent and the millions
thus brought into circulation here vii
soon offset the depression in sugar
dividends so generally complained o.
| locally.
All strength to the arms OF these
Investigators and may they so regu
late conditions that the hundreds O
! thousands of people of moderate
means on the mainland, who so anX
| iously desire to do so, may visit am
enjoy ALL of your beautiful islands
GEO. w. VANSYCkLE.
| Honolulu, r. H., Jan. &c. 1914.