The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-01-27
l'HD VOLCANO HOAD
Minister SpGnCer'S Visit to the
Works.
Important Chance of Route
Determined.
A Gain in Economy md in Avaiiab,n
Lands for Development

His Excellency G. N. Spencer,
Minister of the Interior, returned on
the steamer w. G. Hall last week
from a visit to the Volcano road and
other public works on Hawaii. A
BULLETIN reporter called on Mr..
Spencer at the Interior Office to as
certain the results of his trip, and
although busy the Minister cordially
rendered all the information desired.
~ landed at Hilo on the 18th"
said Mr.. Spencer. II left the follow
ing morning for the Volcano road,
and slept that night in tent in the
woods.
"Next day | went out and follow ed
Mr.. Lvdgate's survey irom where
the road is finished to the volcano.
After careful consideration of tie
whole matter [ decided to put the
road through the woods instead of
going on the pahoehoe, thus shorten
ing the distance two and quarter
miles.
mo; that is not Lydgate's route.
Mr. Bruner is surveying the new
road through the woods and will be
occupied the next four weeks.
son an estimate | think that the
cost of powder for blasting rocks on
the pahoehoe would more than alb
sorb the appropriation.
"AnOther consideration is that we
are opening up a fine tract of land,
on which the natives are planting
taro, ava, and bananas.
"When open it will be one of the
finest drives in the kingdom, going
through the forest with its wealth of
beautiful ferns.
Returning to Hilo l perfected ar
engagements for the water system, of
which we have the material on hand,
visiting the springs forming the
source of supply. The work will be
completed without unnecessary de-
lay.
Il also visited Waiakea for the
purpose of LAYING out lots for sale;
viewed the proposed site of
wharf, also the site for hospital.
No; the harbor improvements are
not decided on as yet.
81 went over the Volcano road
again the following Friday and slept
at the Volcano House. On Saturday
went TO Kau and traversed the route
of the proposed new road, or con-
tinualion, and decided to go on with
the work, putting a small gaug on
it.
81 left on the w. G. Hall Thurs
day morning, and going ashore at
Huokena went over the new road,
which | look upon as the finest road
IN the Hawaiian Islands. 1t was
made under the supervision of Kala-
nipoo. 1t goes through coffee belt
and the natives are planting coffee
along the route. One had so acres,
another 30 acres in coffee. When
we reached Kailua it was dark, and
l had not time to inspect the new
road there
"When do you expect the new
Volcano road to be open2"
"That is impossible to say. We
have to get the surveyors report on
the new route before anything else
can be done. That part will not be
hard to build. There is a stratum of
alluvium three feet deep, which will
be very suitable for the trial grade,
and the convenient deposits Of aa or
scoria will furnish good road metal.
The gradient is equable-no abrupt
rises or falls.
"rhe great thing is that il is Civ
ing the natives up there chance to
make money. One native hasa two
horse team carrying stuff to and
from fIilo. The road besides goes
through a good coffee beIt-the
Il