The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1920-04-23

or TO make needed requirements and
adjustments from time TO time as to do
so would have required a shutdown
and the putting of the town in dark
ness. AS a result, he testified, the
engine had run for nearly years
without any adequate overhauling and
had finally got in a condition where
he had been forced to shut down or
take serious risk of accident The re-
pairs then being made, he said, were
of but emergency nature and in no
sense an oyerhauling. He had no
parts for such in any event, an 90
do this would take perhaps two
months time and cost perhaps $4,000
or $4,000.
Sugar Co., Overloaded
Manager II. B. Penhallow, of the
Wailullu Sugar Co., and j. A. Glib,
chief mill engineer of the same cor
pOration, testified that the electric
plant of the mill was being used in
the day time as a courtesy to the COM
munity, h''+ that when the mill is
operai ; the case at present.
it is }0ssible for them to carry the
nj . road of the electric company.
They also testified that the cos ! of
producing current, even in tn, J off
season when a special boiler must be
fired and the cost is abnormally high
was about 8 cents a hlowatt. Mr..
Gibb further testified that he had been
told by Mr.. Blair that the diesel plant
could make electricity for about a
third of what it cost the mill company.
Plans On Foot
AS result of the investigation,
combined with the inconvenience
connected with a week without lights
there is general talk of another com
pany to be organized Immediately to
supplant the Island Electric Also
there rs talk of a general boycott of
the present system as a means to
hurrying it to its end. 1t was an
nounced during the hearing that steps
have been taken by the bOndhOlders
TO have the mortgage against the
property of the company foreclosed,
but that Wade Warren Thayer, trustee,
who has the matter in hand, had ask
ed to delay this step until the hearing
of the utilities commission should be
completed. Should the foreclosure
take place on grounds that the bonds
have not been properly protected ac-
cording to the terms of the mortgage
it will mean that the property will be
sold to satisfy the bonds and in this
event it would seem likely that it
would come into new hands.
c. d. Lufiin and others are urging
that steps be taken at once, without
waiting either for the utilities COM
mission or for a foreclosure, to or
ganize a new company, secure a per-
nit for the use of the roads and
streets from the supervisors, and pro
coed with the work necessary to fur
nish the community with light and
power from a new source. Lufkin
urges that the new organization shall
be 9 truly community enterprise and
O." Nests that as q preliminary or
!. individuals incorporate the com
Tpdny, su- lrs the $4,000 or S150,000
deemed nect.,~ with the distinct
understanding that as soon as such
organization is effected that the stock
in the company shall be offered at
par in small denominations to every
body in the community, the idea being
to obtain as wide a distribution as
possible.
I 1t is reported that some of the bond
holders have already cabled an offer
to Robert e. Bond, of Berkeley, Cal,
president and practical owner of the
Island Electric Co, to buy the assets
of the concern at an inventory yalua-
ton.
Money Available
In his testimony before the commits
sion on Monday, Harold Rice told the
commissioners that there would be
no difficulty in organizing a new com
pany. He was very positive that the
necessary money for the purpose could
readily be raised.
The general idea seems to be that
the new company shouldshrst purchase
the pole lines and distributing equip
Iment of the present company If posi-
| bic to buy same at about its actual
valuation, and should then endeavor
| to buy current at wholesale from the
| Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Com
pany, which is amply able to supply
such service. This would obyiate the
delay in getting a new plant and dis
| tributing system. But should this plan
not prove feasible to proceed with all
speed TO supplying the new equipment
| in whatever degree necessary.