Honolulu Republican, Volume IV, Number 492, 9 January 1902 — CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. [ARTICLE]

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

It is seldom that such a handsome < ! fT‘-r is made to any body of business m* n as that which emanated yesterday from th»- firm of Harkfeld and Company to the Chamlier of Commerce of Honolulu. This body is now of the free use of convenient and well equipped offices for. as Mr. I sen be r* put it. as lone as the buildine stand - " That means indefinitely, for such a block as the Harkfeld house has just constructed will be a landmark in Honolulu in perpetuam. unless some unforeseen earthquake or tidal »av‘ should obliterate the city. Having no occasion to worry about rent, the Chamber ■ an devote all its • fforts and energies to the expansion and upbuilding of Hawaii's commerce, and making the j»ort of Honolulu more attractivi to shipping Very properly. >h< attention of the Chamber might he forcibly directed to what is Con-gre-sionally known as “The Improvement of Rivers and Harbots." While it is true that we have no navigable rivers in the Territory, there are several pons of entry where the landings might he improved and better protected by breakwaters or some less • xpensive methods. The dredging of Honolulu harbor is a matter that , rightly comes within the province of t'ongr. ss instead of the Territory, and the d-s-pening of the channel at this port would he appreciated by all shipmasters and shipowners. \ not her matter to which the Chamber of Commerce might very properly direct its attention is to the question ■if light houses More of these could be pi a i • d to a vantage on the islands. • spec hilly on Molokai. If might he ! worth while to invite suggestions from residents on the other islands and from the captains of vessels in the Inter-Island trade, the Chamber making its recommendations to Cougress after carefully investigating the f id« a.- submitted. It is better to take , action now than to wait until work ? has b.-en commenced upon the con-; struct ion of the isthmian canal, when there l> bound to be a considerably 1 Increased movement of shipping In t this direction. a Congress w ill appreciate the import 1 Mice of such work here, with the de- ’ ielopment of the trade of the United States to the Orient and. while it may j l>c too late to secure any appropria- ■ „ turn during the present session, facts a ;ind arguments can be prepared to c supiKirt a just claim As the Rivers md Harbors bill is generally put through with a rush at the end of the ( session something may even be done - within the next few months if the 1 Chamber of Commerce acts promptly r in the matter.