Irwin & Co to Randall L. Gibson, October 8, 1883

Irwin & Co. to Mr. Gibson.

Sir: We, the undersigned agents for the Oceanic Steamship Company, desire to call your excellency’s attention to the subject of transportation of Chinese passengers from Hong-Kong and other Asiatic ports to Honolulu under Government permission and regulation.

The company are about to place on the route between the ports of this Kingdom and those of Japan and other Asiatic states a line of first class-vessels, fully equal, if not superior, to the Mariposa and Alameda, vessels of their line now plying between the ports of San Francisco and Honolulu. These new vessels will be fitted up in the best manner for the safe and comfortable transportation of immigrant passengers, and will be placed under regulation calculated to insure the best sanitary welfare of such passengers. This line will be virtually a domestic Hawaiian line; therefore, we ask of the Government, in the exercise of its discretion in the control of immigrant Chinese passenger transportation, that it will extend to our company such opportunity for the transportation of Chinese and other Asiatic immigrants as may be within the discretion of the Government, and such as may appear justly warranted by the superiority of the accommodations and conditions our company offer.

We are, &c.,