The Daily bulletin., 1889-12-10
A GREAT PUBLIC WORK.

tiOn OF the volcano 0ni ESiIO
Road.
Starting from the town Of Hlo
the road runs along through amongst
the simple, but neat, little cottages
lying on the outskirts and past the
Waiakca fish ponds which are fed
by immense springs of water gush-
ing up through openings in the
rocks. These ponds are famous for
fine mullet. just beyond the fish
ponds signs of thrift may be seen in
the shape of small patches of we'll
cultivated sugar cane owned mostly
by Portuguese and Japanese fami-
lies. One mile from town on the
left hand side of the road is located
the Waiakea Sugar Mill, while to
the right splendid view of latest
lava flow may be had. This low
came down TO within half mile of
the road before it stopped. Along the
line of the road there are some fine
specimens of the breadfrLlt tree con-
stantly in full frultage, than which
no more handsome tree is to he
found on these islands. About two
miles from town the road enters the
cane fields of Waiakea plantation,
which gives the traveller a good oppor-
tunity Of seeing the sugar cane in
various stages of. its growth, and in
the months of November and De-
cember when the cane is in flower a,
more imposing sight is rarely TO be
met with.
About three miles from lIilo the
new volcano roa d diverges from the
old one toward the woods on the left,
and, after running through some of
the best land on Waiakea, reaches
the forest belt and skirts along its
edge for some distance, exposing to
view perfect galaxy of guava,
pandanus or screwpine, and the ohia
or mountain apple trees, together
with here and there few kukui and
breadfruit trees, the various shades
of green producing very pleasing
effect upon the eye of the traveller.
But as soon as the forest is fairly
entered the tall trees on both sides
of the road would appear to act sim
ply as Il trellis for profusion of
climbing and creeping vines to
festoon themselves upon, for indeed
each tree reminds one of the sight
often to be seen on the deck of out
going steamers in the harbor of
Honolulu, viz, ladies and gentlemen
so loaded down with vines and
flowers twisted and looped about
them that they are almost beyond
the Identification of their most fami-
liar friends. These giant trees of
the forest are often almost hidden
from view by the tangled mass of
vines that climb upon them, and the
parasites that grow IN the forks and
suitable recesses of the trees COM
plete a most unique and interest
ingly pleasing picture. In all the
three or four miles the road leads
through this forest belt, no two
places are alike in appearance, and
as the road winds and curves about
to avoid steep grades, new beauties
rise ever before the traveller, till il
would appear to be a panorama OF
natures most profuse decoration.
Those who, in former times, have
had to travel on the old volcano road
from Hilo will remember the portion
lying between Hilo and the woods
1t consisted of series of swampy
| places alternating with patches o.
pahoehoe rock, frequently giving
the traveller vivid realization o
the fact that there was but one stel
between the extreme hardness anC
extreme softness of the road, and
no doubt, has again and again beer
the cause of people who are in tho
habit of speaking to themselves say
ing many improper words and ever
sentences that have never been re
corded by man. Instead of thi
state of things the traveller will nov
find well.gradcd macadamizet
road, in every way suitable, in an,
kind of weather, for carriage Il
be driven over it at twelve mile al
hour gait with perfect comfort Il
the occupants-pleasure need no
he mentioned, for ride, even in al
OK cart, through such q strip o
fairy land could not fail to produc
it in the minds of the most dullant
stupid.
The road, so far as it has bee
completed, is wide and even an,
carriages may pass each other q
any point with comfort and safety
Operations are still going on and al
though only about twelve miles @
road are fit for traffic at present,
is to be hoped that in the course @
the next year the whole distanc
from Hilo TO the Volcano will b
completed. 1t may appear to som
that the building of this road is
waste of the peoples money; but
is not so, for leaving out of cor
sideration the comfort and pleasur
of tourists whom we are so cor
stantly and persistently inviting t
our shores, the volcano road open
up large section-many Thousand
of acres-of the finest land in I'll
kingdom that was formerly locke
up. And if the present mode {
taxation is continued as now pra,
tised in lIilo district, the improves