replica of Paris, and out-fashions San and better tell the story of a people than Francisco. These conditions warrant the columns of wearisome figures. One

One of existence of the great and extensively these great finger-points to Hawaiian stocked establishments, and the premier prosperity is the famous old house of E. of them all is the department store of B. 0. Hall & Son. It was established in F. Ehlers & Co. They maintain a repre- Honolulu in 1850 by E. 0. Hall and sentative in New York who keeps in touch Henry Dimond, whose family name is in with the whims of fashion, and what New- large imprints on the commercial story of port is to wear or the Florida tourist will San Francisco. Its location was on King array himself in is at the disposal of the street and Fort. In 1852 Mr. E. O. Hal] Hawaii trade as soon as it is offered in alone branched into general merchandise New York. In this regard it is well to lines in a small store at the corner of King suggest to the intending tourist to carry and Fort streets, and until 1860 the busionly such a wardrobe as is essential for ness was conducted under the name of E. the trip. Upon his arrival will be found 0. Hall. In 1860 the son of the founder, on sale clothing and haberdashery more W. W. Hall, was admitted to partnership, suited to comfort and climatic conditions and the trade was rapidly increased. In than can be procured on the mainland. 1869 it had outgrown the restrictions of The prices are such as are quoted in big the store limits, and upon the same site a centers. B. F. Ehlers & Co. is a name two story and basement brick structure that goes down in the note book of every was erected. Then came the era of tretourist as being exceptionally represen- mendous activity wrought by the recitative of the great trade interests of the procity treaty with the United States. In island.

the activities so created, E. 0. Hall & Son

still further increased their trade, and E. 0. Hall & Son, Ltd.

took lead as one of the great modern busiBusiness establishments are more in- ness institutions of the island. In 1883 dicative of the progress, of the wealth, the business was incorporated as E. O. The harbor of Kahului. Present dock facilities, which are to be improved

a

Hall & Son, Ltd. Mr. W. W. Hall was been connected with the house since 1860; elected President of the corporation, and Edwin Oscar White, vice-president, was placed in active management of its grandson of E. 0. Hall, connected since affairs, which he continued in until a few 1880: Edwin Hall Paris, treasurer, who years ago. Since that time the company has been connected with the business since has increased its

its capitalization from 1891; Edwin Oscar Hall, II, Secretary, $150,000 to $300,000, and in 1900 a hand- who came in as clerk in 1905, and Malsome new edifice was erected upon the site colm MacIntyre, auditor, all elected at of the former store. This was ravaged by the last annual meeting, May 13, 1909. fire August 6, 1901, and the handsome

Kahului. new three story building, 75x100, that now occupies the site was completed May, It is to the operations of the Kahului 1902. Since then the firm's business has Railroad Company that the city of Kahudoubled in extent. In 1908 the firm ac- lui, the second of importance in the group quired the Associated Garage, one of the and a trade center of commanding interlargest in the city, and besides have a est. In fact, Kahului's position was crelarge two-story warehouse on Allen street ated by the corporation; also the chief on the water-front, and another large factor in the development of East Maui. warehouse on Bethel street near King. In Its lines traverse a most productive and addition to automobiles and supplies, the scenic area, a panorama that evidences the house deals in agricultural implements, source of the island's wealth. Plantations stoves, household goods, lubricating oils of sugar cane, of groves of cocoanuts and and the like. It is a name prominent in bananas and the other harvest producing the Pacific trade.

interests of the group. This railroad was The present officers of the corporation the first to be constructed in the islands. consist of W. W. Hall, president, who has and was the enterprise of T. W. Hobron, W. H. Bailey and W. 0. Smith, who re- to the people of Hawaii and are prominent ceived a charter in 1881, to begin its con- in the trade story of the present generastruction. It was afterwards acquired by tion. the Wilder Steamship Company, and is The following are the officers in direct now operated by the Hawaiian Commer- control of the corporation's many intercial and Sugar Company, whose activities ests and ramifications: are of world note, and its securities of Hon. H. P. Baldwin, president and genprime interest to the exchanges of the eral manager; James B. Castle, first viceUnited States and Europe. The company president; W. R. Castle, second vice-presihas expended $125,000 in the construc- dent; J. P. Cooke, treasurer; E. E. Paxtion of a breakwater and in dredging the ton, secretary; D. B. Murdoch, auditor; basin, which has made the harbor one ac- J. N. S. Williams, Superintendent. cessible at all times and fully protected Messrs. Alexander & Baldwin, of Honofrom the storms of ocean. It is the port lulu, San Francisco, New York and Seattle of call for the American Hawaiian Steam- are the agents. ship Company's vessels, the Watson Navi

Hilo Railroad Company. gation Company and Inter-Island Steam Navigation Company, besides the great The country about Hilo is traversed by carriers in the independent traffic of the the rails of the Hilo Railroad Company, seas, and hundreds of sail craft. The one of the best managed, best equipped company's operations are extensive, and roads in the world—in the world, rememembrace sugar growing on a mammoth ber-and its scenic features are not scale. It is one of the great factors in the equaled anywhere else on earth where trade and activities of the islands, and the railroads afford the means of transportanames of those connected with its control tion. For a distance of fifty miles the and management ring with historic worth road is lined on either side by wild roses,

on

gigantic ferns, papai trees, bananas and and the warehouse thereon, as also the other tropic blooms and foliage in bewil- wharf and warehouses the Wailoa dering profusion. No dream can picture River. The company has in hand exten

. the beauty of this reality of bloom and sions to Hamakua, Paauhau and Hakatropical foliage. The road was not con- lau. Its operations are under the direcstructed solely for sight-seeing purposes, tion of its general superintendent, Mr. R. by its builders, although the tourist traf- W. Filler, whose efforts to display the fic figures largely in its patronage. It has glories of scenery and verdure of Hilo to a big development purpose in wresting the tourist have made this section of genfrom its tropical growth the fertile soil to eral interest. He is furthermore one of become the domain of the sugar grower. those courteous, hospitable character of It has already fulfilled this end in the men who earn and deserve the rememmany thousands of acres planted to cane brance of those favored with his acquaintand rice. The road is the only broadgauged road in the islands, and is rockballasted and equipped with the latest in Hawaii from the time it began to ocrolling stock. It is superbly managed, and cupy a position in the industrial market one feature in its operation is the practice and the agricultural world through the of burning down the ewed growth that production of its plantations, has been borders the road-bed. The latter is rock- short of hands to handle the constantly inballasted, the bridges are of structural creasing output of its mills and its fields. steel, and in every department the element It has had experience with Chinese, Japof substantiality is the predominating fea- anese and Portuguese labor, and of any of ture. Along the line are such important these it has never had a sufficient complepoints as Waiakea, Olaa, Puna and Glen- ment to carry on its business in a proper wood. Besides its railway operations, the manner. company operates the big wharf at Hilo Of all the labor imported to the islands,

ance.

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