Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-06-30
Honolulu Rapid Transit & Land
Company Progresses Far
Since Days Of IraHway Co.
~ c. O. 5ALLERTYNE
Manager Honolulu Rapid Transit &
Land Company.


Manager Honolulu Rapid Transit 4
Land Company.
In 1894 the legislature Of the then
kingdom Of Hawaii granted q fran
chise authorizing the construction and
operation Of q horse car street railway
system covering the following streets
in this city: King street from the
Palama pumping station TO Kalakaua
avenue, and along Kalakaua avenue t.
Kapioiani Park; Beretania street from
little waikiki Of Punahou street 20
Nuuanu street; Nuuann street from
Bates street south TO Queen street:
along Queen, Fort, Allen and Alakea
streets TO Beretania street, and on
Fort street from Queen up to School
street and along School street TO
Euuanu.
The company was incorporated in
London, England, under the name Of
Hawaiian Tramways Company"
About two-thirds of the stock was held
IN London, England, and being an Eng
Iish corporation Il had its head office
there. The system was operated prin-
cipally on q twenty and thirty minute
Roadway, the rate Of fare from Pa
lama to Waikiki being 15c. At the
time this railway was constructed II
would appear TO have met the de-
mands Of the public, but az. the city
continued to grow rapidly and as no
improvements were made In the street
car system, the public demands rapid
" outerew the co1npany's facilities,
and the time came, eventually, when
an improved system Of street railway
transportation was demanded. On diff.
ferent occasions the management Of
the Tratnways Company was request.
ed TO Improve and extend the system,
but he refused, giving e. his reason
that Il was only the Hawaiians and
Chinese who rode on the street cars
and the service was good enough for
them.
Rapid Transit Organized
The agitation continued. and In 1898
franchise was granted by the legis-
Iature 70 G. q. Bailentyne and HIS a.
Cociates. with the requirement that the
same should be assigned TO Q company
duly Incorporated with q capital Of not
less than 100000, with the privilege
Of increasing Il 20 $1,000 900. The
Honoluiu Rapid Transit B Land Com
@D1ny' was incorporated August 30.
1885. and shortly Afterwards the frnn-
chIee was assigned TO r.
Tor the reason that the Hawaiian
IfQmWayB Company occupied the prins
cipoI thoroughfares Il was somewhat
difficult FOR the new company to lay
satisfactory trackage system. How
ever. notwithstanding the difficulties
which were clearly IN the way. the
[onpany undertook the task ana IN
November u 1900 began the construc-
ton Of the Pnnahou line at Wilder
avenue nnd Alexander street fellow.
ING the present route If that line down
% Boretania street. but instead Of
turning on Beretania street as Il does
now, Il continued down .Alapai 10 what
a now known hs Hotel street extend.
|n1 along this street 70 the Nuuanu
stream and along King street on the
0ouI1 side to and up Liliha street TO
UIIIit street That portion Of Hotcl
street now lying between Alapai and
|rIchboWl streets was not then
opened. With the assistance Of the
Territorial government the property
rights on Hotel street were acquired
and the company was thus enabled
10 continue Its line through this street
The line was also extended up 20
what is now known IS the college
Hills Tract
1901 Sees First Traffic
The present power plant location
vas acquired and the necessary build
ines erected thereon and the machin-
cry installed. while the portion Of the
Ir1ckage system already referred to
was under construction so that this
section Of the system was ready. and
formally opened for traffic on the s1st
81 August. 1901.
About this time an arrangement was
come TO with the Hawaiian Tramways
Company for the submission to the
supreme court upon an agreed state
uenls Of facts. certain questions I'm
dispute between the two. companies.
one Of which was HAS the Ha-
Wniinn Tramways Company an excins-
i've frnnchise7" This was decided ad.
xef1eIy to the Hawaiian Tramways
Company and opened the way for the
Rapid Transit Company to construct
IIS tracks on King street The COM
DIoIod construction on the King street
line extended from the Kamehameha
~ road to McCully street and across
the suan1ps TO Kalakaua avenue. In