Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-03-08
HIL0, HAWAII.
kAlw1K1, Feb. s, 1900

"ell we are still enjoying quaran-
tine life, only occasionally getting
any mail or getting any out. At the
best we only expect mail once a week
but when it come it comes once in
two or three weeks and then have to
burn your wrappers and envelopes be-
tore you leave the postotfice no matter
where the mail comes from. Police
guard the post office and ropes are
stretched around it like circus. But
| am glad that that they take so
much precaution. AS far as know
no case Of plague in Hlo yet. There
has been same suspicious cases but
they did not prove to be plague.
The orders of the board of health to
cremate all bodies that died from the
plague and all their ehects-houses
and all in it whether it belongs to
rich or poor. Honolulu is one fourth
burned up, and the reports have it
that they have the plague about
stamped out now. Well it has been
my aim in writing the letters TO en-
able the readers OF the Courier to
have pretty correct idea of these ISL
ands. but from letters have received
see that have not been successful.
so | will try once more, but will start
from the very bottom.
Now as has been told great many
times the islands are Of volcanic
origin. But do you understand what
volcanic origin is? For fear you do
not, will try to tell you, for am
willing 10 confess that did not grasp
the meaning in its true sense until l
actually saw it. In the first place
the ocean is very deep here and a
velcano bursts from the bottom of the
ocean, and lava builds up on the same
principal as sand from spring this
rolls down the side and builds its
self up until at last it is above the
water which is $4,000 feet deep here.
But it did not stop at that but kept
on flowing aad building up until
Maunakea is $4,000 feet above the
water or if it had been formed on
land it would have been $4,000 feet
nigh. Well this island of Hawaii
has 5 CT these volcanoes. They are
all joined together at the base, and
each of these main cones have cones
along their sides. The one that
burst out last summer is about 1900
feet up the side of Mauna Loa. But
didn't flow long enough tor the lava
to reach the ocean. 1t built a cone
some 200 feet high. So you can see
that this island is still in the process
of building.
Now as to climate and vegetation.
The climate changes as you climb
the mountain-frost never comes be-
low 1900 feet, and from there up it
comes quite frequently. You will
hear that one can find anv climate
he wants. SO he can but the olm
ate is always the same or nearly SO.
If you want winter it is here but
once winter always winter. You
can not find the four seasons in
one place. Where | am it is per-
petual spring as much farther up
the mountain it is autumn. while
on the sea coast it is summer, SO
Of course each location has its
peculiar vegetation. You can
not raise all kinds Of fruits,
garden stuff in one orchard on
garden. While the top Of the
mountain is bare nothing but
rocks and snow. To still farther
give you an idea if YOU will only
stop to thing of this immense hill
it of course has variety Of soils
and climates as yoa go az ound as
we'll as up the hill it is more or
less exposed to the sun and
winds. l am living on the north
east side. more north than east.
1t is exposed to the wind more
than the sun, for it blows from
the northeast 9 months Of the
year. from December 10 March
our winds are like yours from
any quarter, as may happen.
Then we get our hot weather if