New-York tribune., 1911-02-05
ONE OF TIE BIG REDWOOD TREES
OF CALIFORNIA.

| tion IS never seen twice displaying the
same sort Of freaks. Therefore. there are
none Of the wonders OF the world more dif.
| ficut TO portray by pen, brush or camera
For Kilauea the distinction is claimed
of being the largest active crater in the
world. Whatever possible contention might
be raised as to that the fact defes contra
6iction that Kilauea may be reached With
greater comfort of travel than can any
other volcano. Palatial ocean steamers
from all sides Of the Paciic a modernly
appointed steamer from Honolulu, a lux.
urious railway carriage. an hours drive
over a smooth road, q first rate hotel with
in a hundred yards Of the crater's brink.
enchanting scenery never out OF sight on
any stage Of the JouTney-there are the
elements of a Kilauea volcano tour.
Kilauea forms a cavity in the mountain
side, with walls on three sides from 600 to
400 feet high It's area is four and quar-
ter square miles, or 1850 acres
"On the island Of Hawaii volcanic erup-
tons have been confined, within modern
times. to the summit and slopes OF Mauna
Loa, with the exception of Mount Hualalai
in the year 1901. The latter mountain, 50
far as its volcanic proclivitIes are con.
celned. IS now extinct.
mo one has ever been able to explain
precisely the connection between Kilauea
ard the summit OF the mountain OF which
it is a part. That there IS some subterra-
mean connection. however. is evident from
the fact that when one is active the other
&c Lrffanaa
safety valve. They do not anticipate that
the crater higher up viii do any damage
so long as the smaller crater and its tribu-
taries boil some ten thousand feet below.
The travelling distance between the two
craters is perhaps twenty miles.
1T occurred 10 me that a sight Of such
natural beauty should be preserved for the
people Of the island, the tourist and the
United States There is considerable land
about Kilauea which should be purchased
before ii falls into other than public hands
The establishment of the proposed PARK
can be accomplished for not more than
$50, 600, and perhaps for sum considerably
less than that
"The park will be a spot of naturai
beauty, irrespective OF the volcano. The
plant life there is most attractive, ana 'ne
influence of the lava during previous flows
upon the vegetation thcreabouts is an III
terestng sight, too. For instance we nave
what we call tree moulds. These are slmr
lar to ordinary posthoes. They "e's
formed when the lava, many years as"
wound itself around trees that later DE-
cayed by reason of their unnatural cover
ing The holes where the tree trunks oh0e
were remain there TO this day. and WIZ
always form a part Of the diversified lano'
scape. The town Of Hilo, which is 10 s''
join the national park il the United sta'e'
government authorizes its creation mas
population OF about six thousand. ID'
park. however. will be mainly for the e''
Of the tourists
Richard B. Watrous. secretary OF wv
American Civic Association. with heA1
quarters in Washington, had this 10 say
regarding the project described by Deiess"
Kalanianaole:
"The American people are rapidly co",
ing to an appreciation OF the lmloi''
OF the scenic wonders of the nation a"'
OF the necessity Of their bcins n"'e
cessiblc TO the masses OF the people s'
adequately exploited. The Hawaiian -.
ards are the great mid-Pacihc stopp"'
place for hundreds Of thousands OF "..
lists The United States is proud oi
possession OF the Hawaiian ISLANDS ~"
should take advantage OF the oppor'Dn,,
TO preserve reservation already oV'0
to park purposes on the Islands IA"
include the volcano itself, ana mus
make it one OF the distinct wonders OF w.
national park system. -
THE latest proposition, however e
phasizes the demand for bureau OF ps'S
az recommended by the President "''' -,
Secretary OF the Interior. The hIS' ~,
OF the government before IL attempts ~,
selection of new parks Is % PioNiu. -,
machinery for their management anu ~
Purchase and maintenance OF auui''V
parks and monuments Such mae
docs not now exist except IN a eiuue "a
The administration og the nailoh'i m.
comes Under the jurisdiction oI "'e "a.
partment of the Interior. and no such
vision Is made for their definite an" ~,
tomatic management as would re pos'',
with a special bureau, which snousd 90,
administer the monuments. Inc ~.
course would Dc Nrst 10 81 " ~ :, ,av
ganized to which may be referred d" Ia
park projects. A competent chlet :,
be placed in charge. and be authorizes"
cal. TO his aid expert advice, p3rtieu''""
In the selection OF new parks. "A
ITO such a bureau should be reiea,,sn
the project for a new park IN the haMsn an
Islands. There can be little doubt tna' tna re-
OF its possibilities woul9 ~
suit in "a recommendation that II be ao0S'
cd into the park family.