The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-12-11

A CARRIAGE road to the volcano has
long been a real want felt by the tourist
travel in this Kingdom. 1t was only the
very strong and hearty that could make
the trip twenty years ago. Then the
volcano house was a very primitive
affair, and the worlds great wonder, as
well as Hawaii's, could only be reached
by the tedious and difficult ride from
Hilo.
The Wilder Steamship Company
made great advance when they opened
up road from Keauhou on the south
ern part of the island, and shortened
thirty miles distance to fourteen, of
which eight could be performed in car
riages.
The last Legislature appropriated
large sum of money for carriage road
from Hilo to the volcano, and this we
believe the Government intend to push
through, and the Hilo people eagerly
hope for its realization.
1t was, however, a surprise to many
people to learn, not long ago, that car
riage road had already been completed
from Punaluu to the volcano, the Inter
Island Company being first III the field
in this very great improvement.
Every one who has been to the vol
cano via Punaluu, will remember that after
leaving the halfway house the road used
to cross long and wearisome stretch OF
pahoehOe lava, and then strike section
of black sand, which used to be known
as "The Desert" Across this stretch it
was difficult to find the path, which was
easily obliterated by the wind, and
many traveller has got lost crossing
this belt, and found himself in Puma in
stead of at Kilauea, though, of course,
tourists we'll guided always managed to
reach their destination.
Now everything has been changed.
Captain Lee has shown what an intelli-
gent road maker can do if he sets him
self about surveying the country and
picking the most suitable location for
road. The old Volcano trail has been
completely abandoned shortly after leav-
ing the halfway house, and instead OF
striking across the pahOehoe, skirts the
flow for several miles, going through
ribbon of grassy country which lies be-
tween the pahoehoe and set OF high
bluffs, over masses of "a, but now COW
cred with mantle of soil and verdure.
This is all very much to the left of the
old bride path. The new road is from
ten to twelve feet wide, properly graded,
and all hollows filed up. When the
road strikes the pahoehoe it has only
short piece to cross, and here it Is seen
what intelligent road making can do over
a surface which our government road
makers used to give up as bad job,
leaving the unfortunate traveller to pick
his way over the cracks and petrifed
bubbles as best he could. Captain Lee
has cSlt a regular road bed across this
rocky mass, has smoothed away the I'M
evenness, has filed up the cracks and
hollows to be crossed, and has top
dressed the whole in such a manner.
that instead of YEARLY picking ones way
at snail's PAGES horseman can go across
at a seven and half miles an hour gait.
Above the pahoehoe stretch, the road
being much more to the left than the
old trail, gives very much finer view of
the lower slope of Maunaloa, with its
park like extent of country, than was OBJ
tanned formerly. Indeed it will be i'm
possible for anyone to realize how bad
the old road was when they only see the
new one. There is no reason except
rank stupidity, why the Government
trail of former times should not have
gone through this line of country. But
the brilliant individuals who laid ont
paths, trails and roads in the first in
stance in this country had oftentimes no
more idea of practical road making than
a COW has of Wagner's music. The re-
suit is that wherever intelligent men
have to deal with the old roads they do
a great deal of relaying and changing of
course. This was the case in Hamakua
lately when practical men like Messrs.
Horner and Wight took the matter in
hand. In the construction of the new
Volcano road, it is fortunate that so prac-
teal man as Captain Lee had the man.
agement. He has bad experience in
road making in California and Sontb
America, and has acquired an eve for a
road line, The present result shows
low accurate that eye is.