The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-01-21
A LAND OF RICHES.
HAWAII THE GEM OF TIL.
PACIFIC OCEAN,. G
IT. Natural wonders Are In . Glass by
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Extend to the
Bottsn of the Sea and Arc There
fers Really $4,000 Feet In Height

In acquiring Hawaii tho United
States has gained besides one of the
most fertile and rich islands in the
world, some Of the finest mountain
scenery presented anywhere in the
universe district which. could it be
transplanted with all its grandeur of
scenery and climate, would make the
fortune of an American hotel keeper
in q year. The mountains are all
volcanoes. They are a class by them
selves. They are not only the tallest,
but the biggest and strangest in the
whole world. Considering that they
reach from the bottom of the Pacific
ocean $4,000 feet deep there) to over
$4,000 feet above sea level, they really
stand 80, 900 feet from their suboceanic
base to their peaks. The active craters
on the islands number 800, but the
dead craters, the ancient chimneys Of
subterranean lava beds. are numbered
by the thousands. The islands are of
lavfc formation. Evidence of extinct
volcanoes are SO common that one
seldom notices them after few weeks
residence on the islands. Ancient lava
Is present everywhere. The natives
know all its virtues, and while some
ancient deposits are used as a fertil-
izer for soils, other lava beds are blast
ed for building material, and for ma
cadamizing roads. Titanic volcanic
action is apparent on every side. Every
headland is an extinct volcano. Every
island has its special center eruption,
which, beginning at the unfathomable
bottom of the sea, has slowly built up
a foundation and then superstruc-
ture OF lava. On the Island of Hawaii
and on Molokai are huge cracks sew
eral thousands of feet deep and many
yards in width, which were formed by
the bursting upward of lava beds ages
and ages ago. The marks of the IT,
tanic force are plainly visible. Mark
Twain is authority for saying that the
two great active volcanoes, Mauna Loa
and Kilauea, are the most interesting
in the world. Certainly they are the
most unique. Manna Loa is $4,000
feet above sea level. Every six or
seven years there is an eruption from
Its sides, and several times the flow
of lava threatened the ruin of the
town Of Hilo, thirty miles away. The
crater on Mauna Loa is three miles
In diameter and 900 feet deep. Over
the crater hangs an Illuminated vapor
which may be seen at night over 200
miles distant. When Mauna Loa is in
violent eruption fountain of molten
lava spouts every minute over $50 feet
In the air, bursting into ten thousand
brilliantly colored balls like a mon
strous roman candle pyrotechnic. Then
there Is Kilauea-a shorter and fatter
volcanic mountain, sixteen miles dis
tant. It has the greatest crater known
-one nine miles across, and from 900
to 800 feet deep. And such a crater
In 1t is little lake Of molten lava
all the time. At times the lava is
over 100 feet deep, and at other times
1t Is over 200 feet deep, according ia
the pressure on it in the bowels of the
earth. Signs of volcanic activity are
present all the time throughout the
depth Of the molten mass in the form
OF steam, rocks, jets of sulphurous
smoke and blowing cones. The crater
itself Is constantly rent and shaken
with earthquakes. Nearly all the
tourists in Honolulu go to see the mar
velous eruptions on Mauna Loa and
Kilauea. Hotels have been built on
the mountain sides for the accommo-
dation of sight-seers, and there are
scores of guides about the craters.
One Of the many places of interest
in Oahu outside of Honolulu is the
Punchbowl. It is an extinct volcanic
rising a few hundred feet above the
town. Another resort is the Pail, the
highest point in the pass through the
range Of mountains that divides Oahu
It Is the fashion, and a very good
fashion 1t is, to see the Pail and praise
its charms. It Is the Yosemite oil
Hawaii. The view from this height
sweeps the whole island from north
to south. In the direction of the cap
ital the land slopes to q level two
miles from the sea and then spreads
fatty to the shore. The hillsides are
not, as q rule, in a state Of cultiva-
ton, although the soil is fertile. The
land is now numbered with the wilt
guava, which bears fruit as big as the
lemon, and with the lantana, the seed.
Of which are scattered broadcast by ar
imported bird called the minah. Or
the lower ground small farmers, most
" orientals, make their homes, an(
these are several cane plantations
Turning the other way the sight-seel
gets one Of the famous views of tn,
world. FROM the apex Of the pas
to its northward drop is sheer to
boggan-like descent Of nearly LOO
feet. Far below the country spreads
to the eye like a relief map. 1t un
dulates with here and there feath
cry farm, then rice field, great sugal
ranches beyond, and in the distanc,
the ocean, its blue waters thrust bacl
by lava capes or sharp volcanic cones
and cliffs. Closer by the mountain
crags pierce the clouds. He who hai
not been to the Pail on q clear day ha'
missed half the charm Of Oahu. Ma
jestic scenery. xestful sport, glimpse
OF the savage state and delightful
hnnnaa srrroundings which man,