The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-06-02
Captain Bulger, After Expert
Study, Makes This Prediction
Of city's Future
SHIPPING INTERESTS >@''
AND TERRITORY WARNED
Harbor and coaling Facilities
Must Be Reyolutionized To
Handle Business SO

Capt. John X. Bulger, United States
supervising inspector of steam vessels
Of the first federal district. which in
,mdes Hawaii, said last night that
Honolulu is destined to become the
greatest port of call in the world and
he warned shipping interests here and
the territorial government to begin i'm
mediately to prepare for the immense
maritime business that win accumulate
here because Of the Panama Canal after
the. close of the European War. Cap
tain Bulger has been in Honolulu for
zone time on business connected with
his official duties and will sail for the
Coast today in the Matsonia. His
headquarters is in San Francisco.
Hard WORK For inspectors
"Several years ago when I was in
Washington, said Captain Bulger last
night at the Alexander Young Hotel,
Il told Secretary Of Commerce Straus
hat our service should have two inspec.
sors in Honolulu He did not think
hat your shipping interests would war.
ant this departure, but finally 1 pre-
allied upon him TO act favorably upon
ny recommendation, with the : result
hat the inspectors have had all they
'ould do here and have been a big saw
,ng to the government in O financial
way. Since that time your maritime
business has grown steadily. 1t has
always been from twenty to ten per
cent ahead Of your facilities, and that
Is the situation that. confronts Homo
tu1h today.
improvements Must Come
"There must be a revolution made
n shipping and coaling facilities here
without delay if Honolulu expects to
handle the business of the future.
Now is the time to begin harbor ex.
Dansipn. While the European war has
set the commerce of the Pacific back
yoefully !, Immediately after peace is re-
tored and the belligerent nations re-
sumo their normal traffic of the seas
ne Panama Canal is going to become
he popular route from European ports
20 the Orient and Honolulu the great
st port of call in the world.
Profit BY Bunker Facilities
"Ships sailing from European ports
nay call at the Bermudas, Panama and
honolulu for, coal en- route to the Far
Cast, and thus utilize immense space
for eargoes that otherwise would have
o accommodate bunkers. This will
mean that your city will profit i'm
nensely if you provide the docking and
coaling facilities that will be in de-
nand. At the present time your haf-
Dor is ten per cent behind the demands
of your shipping. 1t is important that
local interests should take time by the
forelock and prepare for the/immense
additional business to come this way.
Good Harbor Means Wealth
"San Francisco before the earth
quake and fire also was far behind in
shipping facilities. After that calami-
y a state board of harbor commission
RS, consisting of practical maritime
men and engineers, was appointed by
he governor and it went to work to
improve harbOr facilities. Since then
more than $l5,000,0 900 has been spent
IN bay improvements, and millions
uore ARE to be spent. The commercial
'eturn Of these improvements has been
beyond all expectation and the bust
less continues daily to increase, To
lay the Coast metropolis is the great
st seaport on the Pacific.
Honolulu Should Take Heed
"What San Francisco has learned
should be needed by Honolulu. You
laye the hRrbor and ths) prospects and
,hould Immediately begin to take ad-
yantage of both. 1t will take lots
# money and require men of vast ex-
,ericnce to prepare this port for the
business that is coming, but it will be
money and brains well employed Take
NY advice and get busy while there is
lime. ,>F, ,-