The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-09-24
Hawaii and Its Volcanoes
Review Of Professor Htchcoeks New Book
by Thomas A. Jaeger Jr.

To those who are interested In the
founding Of an Observatory ~ Kilauea,
a publication just NJ this time 81 two
valuable memoirs on the Hawaiian
volcanoes. appears timely and for
tunatc. Dr. Brigham be putting
through the press a splendid memoir
Of the Bishop Museum, by himself, on
the history Of the active volcanoes Of
the Island Of Hawaii, and Professor
Hitchcock now publishes a geologist =
careful studies after repeated visits
TO the Islands These gentlemen are
eminently fitted for their respective
tasks, and from scientific standpoint,
Il is TO be hoped that the two volumes
will be somewhat in disagreement.
Legitimate controversy based upon
honest scientific work is the best pos
sible stimulus TO progress and eventual
discovery of truth. For this reason we
are very glad that there are two books
coming ont instead of one, so that we
may have different points Of view
presented.
For the work Of the proposed oh.
servatory, the first task necessary is
the making of summary of what is
known concerning these volcanoes. APP
parently this work has been made very
EASY for the new observers by the ex-
ccient compilation of historical data
contained in Professor Hitchcock Is
book. The book is particularly valu-
able at this time because of the hui
name interest which is being taken in
volcanoes and earthquakes, and also
because of the extensive economic and
military development of the Hawaiian
Islands. Recent disasters the world
over have at last awakened an intense
interest in seismology and volcanology
ana our newspapers are beginning to
print reports of the records Of sesmo-
graphs and of the sources of their
movements. Hence anything dealing
with n great volcano center is bound
10 attract attention at once and Pro-
fessor Hitchcock book should have
a wide circulation.
Professor Hitchcock's Qualifications.
Prof. C. II. Hitchcock is well fitted
for the task he has here assumed. For
years Professor of Geology in Dart
mouth College, after making repeated
visits TO the Hawaiian Islands, and
writing scientific papers on the geology
of the volcanoes, he at length retired
from teaching and took up his resi-
dence in Honolulu. This gave him the
opportunity for just the sort of schol-
arly activity necessary TO write a
critical review Of all the records of
these volcanoes, as written by travel.
ers and scientific men. He states at
the outset that he has tried "to de.
scribe briefly the phenomena connect.
ed with the discharges of molten lava
from the two great Hawaiian volca.
noes" His contribution is limited to
statement of the facts, with very
brief treatment of theories.
The book is divided into four parts
and an appendix. The parts deal
respectively with the physical geo.
graphy of the archipelago, history of
Mauna Loa, history of Kilauea and
discussion of the Hawaiian type of
volcanic action. The appendix treats
of earthquakes in Hawaii, Prof. vii.
liam Pickering's theory of the origin
of the moon from the Pacific basin,
spectroscopic and analytical chemistry
of the volcanoes, and biographical
notes on Dana, Coan, Green, Bishop,
Brigham and Dutton. The illustrations
are numerous in haIf.tone and photo.
Autograph and are well reproduced.
The Publishers.
The work of the makers of the book,
the Hawaiian Gazette Company, is ex.
cellent, and the Typography and proof
correcting good. 1t will be remem