The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-09-19
PLAN TO KEEP UP
VOLCANO STUDY
Perroi Soon 10 Leave and Local
Men Prepare to Establish
an Observatory.

(Ffom SUNDAYS Advortiserl
Word received yesterday from Hilo
to the effect that Professor Ferret in
tendi shortly to leave his studies at
the Volcano Of Kilauea and proceed to
vesuvius will result in the maturing OF
plans now in preparation by prominent
local men 10 follow up thut scientist q
work in n fitting manner.
4 A number OF influential men Of Homo
lulu have become intensely interested
in the reports Of the volcano which
Professor Perret has been publishing in
! The Advertiser, among these being
President Gilmore of the College of
Hawaii and L. A. Thurston. Professor
Gilmore suggests that local influence
and local funds be solicited to follow
up the work performed by Mr.. Perret,
and q campaign is now being conducted
with that end in view.
Professor Gilmore held conference
with Mr.. Thurston last week and turned
over his plans and papers to him, say
ing that anything which the latter ar
ranged would be seconded by him. It
is now proposed to tender banquet to
Mr.. Perret on his arrival in Honolulu
en- route back to his old stamping
ground, at which a number of the lead
ing men of the city will be guests.
Governor Frear will be asked to preside
and Mr.. Perret will be requested to
make an address upon his own work
and the necessity, from scientific
lew, of continuing it.
in conversation in Hilo, Professor
Ferret told Mr.. Thurston that if Homo.
lulu or Hawaii would subscribe the
funds for the construction of an OBJ
servatory and its running expenses he
would return at least once year to
the rim of Halemaumau to give local
! people the benefit of his wide expert
ence. His offer includes all his ex-
penses in this connection, in like man.
ner as his present stay here has also
been entirely at his own expense
\ The Massachusetts Institute of Tech
nology, which once proposed to found
the observatory, but which it was un-
able to do, stands prepared to supply
many valuable instruments for the
work rs soon as the observatory is
euilt in which to install them. A mum.
Der of other instruments can be sup
piled by the College of Hawaii.
Professor Gilmore believes that when
once the citizens of Hawaii express
their determination to carry out this
scientific necessity and express in this
manner their appreciation of Professor
Perret IS work, that government aid
may be Forthcoming or else that the
Carnegie Foundation or other scientific
institutions will assist.
Perret Advocates Plan.
HTLo, September l5.-'sThe time
will soon come when my weekly reports
will cease said Professor Perret a
few days ago. 81 will soon conclude
my daily observat ons, and while may
still stay around for a while to do GER
tain work, the daily observations will
cease, and l will report only any ex.
traordinary phenomena which may oe
cur
Professor Perret was asked what his
opin on was in regard to the PROPOSE
ton TO establish a permanent observa
ton station at KIlauea, particularly as
to whether, after the habits of the vol
cano had been studied, predictions as
to outbreaks and similar action co1ld
be made.
"There certainly ought to be a per-
manent observation station answer
ed the scientist cit would be of great
value to science and to the Islands as
well. A number of intensely interest
ing phenomena may be constantly OBJ
served, and, in add ton to this, much
data in regard to past eruptions may
be found. -
Professor Perret went ON to illustrate
his statement by giving Illustrations of
what he had found. Thus he had found
mainly by excavat ons in old beds of
ashes, some as deep as twenty feet,
that the lava of Kilauea had until less
than hundred years ago been of
highly explosive character, throwing
great chunks of hot lava far into the
:. air.
Not So Long Ago.
"That was not very long ago. said
Professor Perret. 81 figure that some
of these bombs were thrown out of
the crater as late as 1870 and even in
1923, ana hundred years, speaking
of such things, is, of course, but yes
terday. Some of these bombs may be
found without effort, bat people gem
orally do not know what they are. Thus
| found magnificent specimen of n
t1rtle.back lava bomb, over FIVE feet
long, lying right by the road where
1t may easily be seen by passers-by."
Answering the question as to wheth-
err the establishment of permanent
observation station at the crater would
enable the scientists to determine be
forehand when outbreaks would take
place, Professor Perret answered in the