Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1886-03-20

out to be false when the crater had
cooled sufficiently to allow nearer APP
proach to its edge. The Press sent a
representative to the Volcano by the
return of the steamer w G. HaH yes
terday and will publish full accounts Of
the phenomenon in the near future.
THE news received from the Volcano
of Kilauea by the Kiaau yesterday
morning is Of rather startling nature;
and although it is hardly likely that it
will serve as means of solving the
dark problem of the Volcano" it may,
upon investigation, throw some new
light upon the volcanic problem in Ha-
waii. 1t is generally admitted that the
'volcano" is a heat problem and that its
solution will be found when the origin
of the heat is discovered and the modes
of volcanic action are more fully follow
ed out. The present phenomenon at
least presents our scientists with an op-
portunity, such as is seldom afforded in
life time, of studying specifically one
of the modes of action in volcanic
existence.
| Many theories have been advanced
to solve the volcanic problem, but as
the question is speculative in a great
measure, these theories have necessarily
been built upon mere hypothesis. With
out attempting to examine these
different theories in connection with the
probable extinction of Kilauea, it may
be interesting to state, that the volcano
probably radiated more heat than any
other known volcano, not even except
ing Mauna Loa; and that the radiating
surfaces of the two lakes of the crater
aggregated about 100000 square feet.
These lava lakes are believed to repre-
sent the tops of columns of liquid lava
which extend to unknown depths. 1t
has also been noticed in the history of
Kilauea that when eruptions have occur
red upon the fianks of the mountain,
below the level of these lakes, the lakes
have been drained; but that after the
eruptions have ceased the lava in the
lakes resumed its former level The
height of the lava columns in Kilauea,
however, has not been constant, and it
is recorded that within the last sixty
years the lava level has varied about
four hundred feet.
1t is quite reasonable to suppose
that the crater of Kilauea has been as
hot of late years as it was when Ellis
saw it, sixty years ago, on account of
the fact that the blowing-cones have
disappeared since that time, and, with
probably one or two exceptions, there
have been none for many years either
in the New Lake or in Halemaumau.
The area of these lakes has, within the
last forty years, increased and dimin-
ished at various times, and some peo-
pie even venture the theory that they
will both shortly re-appear.
AS before stated, we do not believe
the present disappearance of the lakes
will solve the volcanic problem, and
the present phenomenon can only be
used to augment the list of modes of
action in Hawaiian volcanoes. 1t is
also evident that our historical volcanic
records embrace too small span to
justify us in drawing general con
clusion as to ultimate causes. There
has been question raised, however,
that the present phenomenon may
throw some light upon. Captain C. L.
Dutton, in his report on Hawaiian vol
canoes under the U. S. Geological Sur
yey, in speaking of our volcanoes, says :;
"The quantity Of heat dissipated by
these volcanoes is suggestive of the
immensity Of the supply 1t has evi-
dently been going on for very long
period, and is to all appearances as
rapid and copious as ever. 1t is hard
to reconcile this patent fact with the
notion of a primitive reservoir charged
with definite quantity of heat which
is slowly wasted without replenishment,
yet giving no sign of exhaustion or
even enfeeblement after accomplish
ing such vast results" The question
raised is, whether the present disap-
pearance of the lakes of Kilauea is a
sign of exhaustion or is only a tem-
porary enfeeblement Of Natures
powers. ED Press.