Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-02-06
ED, TENNEY RECITES
INTERESTING HISTORY Of
MATSON NAVIGATION CO.

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IDWx:
In 1881, Captain MatA0n first con
sidered entering into the shipping
trade with the Hawaiian Islands, and
built the schoone" Emma Claudina
The Emma Claudina Vas a small
schooner with a cargo capacity of
about 300 tens. In the early part Of
the year 1882 she made her first voy-
age to Hilo, and made about six com
plete voyages during that year. The
Let profits realized from the business
Tor the year were about $500. and
those associated with Captain Matson
advised him to quit. but he thought
otherwise and continued his enter
prise.
The Emma Claudina continued in
the trade until the year 1885, when
she was sold. In the meantime. he
had arranged to build the brig Lurline,
and to carry on the business while The
Lurline was building, he chartered the
brig Salinas, of about 400 tons capa-
city. This brig was lost on the HiIo
coast. and he then chartered the bark
Julia Ford, OF 800 tons capacity. The
Lurline was completed in the early
part of 1887, and cleared from San
Francisco for Hilo on her first voyage
on June 16. At this time the charter
of the bark Julia Ford was given up.
The Lurline was profitable from the
commencement, and the business be-
Gan to grow in a satisfactory manner,
the Lurline constituting the entire
fleet.
Fleet k Augmented
1.-The business was developing in
such satisfactory way that in 1888
the bark Harvester was purchased.
with a capacity of 900 tons. In 1890
the schooner Annie Johnson was add
ed to the fleet, her capacity being
100 tons. This vessel has cntinued
in the trade to this day. and has been
changed recently to schooner rig.
"In 1893 the bark Santiago. Of 400
tons capacity, was added. In 1896 the
Lurline was sold. and early in 1897 the
bark Roderick Dhu, of $500 tons capa-
city, was added TO the fleet. In 1898
the Falls of Clyde was purchased, ca
pacity 200 tons, and in 1900 the ship
Marion Chilcott, of $500 tons capacity,
was purchased.
"All these vessels were separate
partnerships owned by Captain Matson
and his associates r p
"By this time, steam transportation
had begun to dominate Pacific Ocean
commerce and Captain Matson, always
looking to the future, realized that the
days of the sailing vessel were num-
bered, and in consequence, on Febru.
airy 9, 1901, the Matson Navigation
Company taking over the fleet of sail.
ing vessels which had heretofore been
operated under the partnership sys,
TEN. At this time the S. S. Enterprise
was purchased. The vessel was re-
built and cleared from San Francisco
for Hilo on her first voyage on March
20, 1902.
The next addition to the fleet of the
Matson Navigation Company was the
ship Monterey, which was rebuilt as
an oil tanker! In 1905 he purchased
the s. S. Hilonian, which was refitted
by the Newport News Shipbuilding &
Drydock Co., and arrived in San Fran
cisco two or three days after the great
earthquake and fire of 1906. Shortly
thereafter she was dispatched on her
first voyage TO the islands by way OF
Seattle. Her itinerary was San Fran
cisco to Hilo. Hilo to Honolulu return
to Hilo, and thence to San Francisco.
Direct Coast Service
ain July. 1907, the Matson NaViga
ton Company appointed Castle
Cooke, Limited. its agents in Honolulu,
and the Hilonian was dispatched from
San Francisco to Honolulu direct, ar
irving here on her first voyage in July
Of that year. This was the inception
of the direct steamer service Of the
Matson Navigation Company between
San Francisco and Honolulu. The de
of the company since that
day has been fairly rapid.
In January 1908, the company abb
sorbed the Planters Line Shipping
Company, which operated line OF
sailing vessels between San Francisco
and the Hawaiian Islands. Their fleet
consisted Of Bark Andrew WEIGH, |
bark f. P. Ruhet, bark Geo. Curtis,
bark Mexican, bark Gerard c. TObey, !
lark Amy Turner. schooner w. II. |
Marston, bark St Catherine, ship Til
lie f. Starbuck, ship Hawaiian Isles, |
and ship Fort George.
Since the acquisition of these YES
sells they have all been sold except |
ing the barks Andrew Welch, R. p. !
Rithet and MohiCan. which, with the !
Annie Johnson, now constitute the {,
entire sailing tonnage of the COM :
DaDy.
In 1908 the S. S. Lurline was COM
Dleted, and made her first voyage to !
the islands, arriving at Honolulu via |
Hilo in June In November, 1908, the |
SIS. Hyades was chartered, and ar
rived at Honolulu on her first voyage !
n December In 1909 the S. S. Will !
was built and arrived at Ho-
aolulu on her maiden voyage in Feb !
-y,orv 1a1A In Anril 1910 Daqotia-