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about 15 miles, from Mahukona to Niulii."39 At least two railroad workers were killed. A German in the
<br />employ of the Hawaiian Railroad Company fell between the cars and was instantly killed. No one to
<br />blame but himself.40 Engines rolled over, a hair -width away from the cliffs or on narrow trestles high
<br />above solid ground. Frightened cattle and pigs ran head on into the train. Despite these challenges, few
<br />questioned the safety and advantages of the Railroad, and Wilder continued adding tracks.
<br />On January 13, 1883, Wilder's Railroad reached the Niuli'i turnaround at Kohala's most eastern
<br />plantation, nearly 20 miles, almost 5 miles longer than a straight Mahukona to Niuli'i shot. Its' trestles
<br />crossed seventeen gulches, one of them eighty-four feet high, one 560 feet long. The train wound
<br />around 25 -sharp curves. It included a primitive telephone system that connected the stations. King
<br />Kalakaua's visit to unveil the once -lost statue of King Kamehameha at Kapa'au in May 1883, turned into
<br />the Hawaiian Railroad's grand ceremonial ride. From then on, the teak passenger cars from London in
<br />which he and his entourage had traveled were named the Kalakaua Cars. Plantations loading sugar paid
<br />$2.50 per 2,000 lbs (one ton) of sugar, regardless of distance — the reason John Hind refused to
<br />participate. Productivity and revenues soared. Kohala entered its greatest prosperity to date. In 1884, it
<br />produced 10,000 tons of sugar and took in more than $40,000 in profits. The Railroad carried 20,000
<br />tons of freight and 6,000 passengers. That year, three locomotives hauled twenty-eight small freight
<br />cars, five flat cars and six passenger cars. In 1885 Kohala Sugar Company soared in productivity to five
<br />times its earlier reports.
<br />When Wilder died, it was discovered that all the stock shares had gone to Wilder, who effectively owned
<br />the whole company. As a result, the company fell to his estate and immediate family. The plantations, as
<br />co-owners, had always thought they owned stock, and felt that they had been cheated. The deceit was
<br />part of a painful transition time for the railroad. As discoveries about Wilder's business practices
<br />undermined confidence, the Railroad's income decreased slowly and steadily. In 1896, the Hawaiian
<br />Railroad Company decided to dis-incorporate and re -incorporate under a new name with a clean slate.
<br />Thus, in January 1897, the Hawaii Railway Company Ltd. emerged. It was still under control of the Wilder
<br />estate and family; therefore the overhaul had little effect. From 1897 until 1899, four sugar firms,
<br />Kohala Sugar Co., Union Mill Co., and Halawa Mill & Plantation Co., Ltd. and the Niulii Plantation Co.,
<br />began buying the railroad stock, and continued its operation under the name of the Hawaii Railway
<br />Company.
<br />In 1899, Hawaii Railway Company approached Honolulu business factor Theo Davies & Co. With its help,
<br />four of Kohala's five sugar companies bought out the suffering railway, "thus ensuring for the future
<br />favorable rates for sugar, coal and other freight41. The Hawi Mill continuing its independence and did
<br />not join as it continued to haul cane by road to Honoipu landing. The Railroad went through a period of
<br />loss until 1912, when the railroad surrendered control to Castle and Cooke. Robert Hall, in late February
<br />1912 reported: "Communication from Mr. Davies re Railway: New directorate in Honolulu: amended
<br />bylaws, etc. Castle and Cooke now has control." Castle and Cooke immediately returned to negotiations
<br />31 Narrow Gage for the Kingdom
<br />40 Advertiser, March 24, 1884
<br />41 Kohala Sugar Company, Annual Report, 1900
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