New-York tribune., 1911-02-05

ter always stays within the confines OF the
crater.
| when Mauna Loa, some ten thousand
feet above, is in eruption, the disturbance
| in kilauea practically ceases. Its fiery
matter seems TO sink almost into the bow
els Of the earth. It can hardly be seen.
! There appears to be some sort Of sub
terranean sympathy between the big noun
tain summit above and the smaller crater
away down the slope, just above Hilo.
"The proposed park would be one of the
grandest natural beauty. Even in its pres
ent unprotected state the crater of Kilauea,
which is one-quarter of a mile across, is
visited yearly by thousands of American
tourists. Hawaii is in the line Of travel to
for the seeker for the out of the ordinary.
1.-Two years ago ! conducted a party or
twenty-five members Of the House to the
very brink of Kilauea They took luncheon
within a stones throw of the craters
mouth. No one felt uneasy; no one needed
TO, for this volcano is the one volcano that
is regarded as being absolutely harmless.
In the first place. ii emits no gases. In
volcanic eruptions it is the gases and the
hot ashes which most frequently kill.
The lava emitted by Mauna Loa, at the
summit Of the mountain, flows down the
slopes with such slowness that even if the
larger volcano were dangerous the people
would have ample time for flight But il
is not dangerous. We no more fear the
molten flow from Loa than we would so
much warm syrup trickling down the noun
tainside. 1t spreads itself all over the
surrounding country, hardens rapidly and
coos quickly. Mauna Loa goes on ram
page about once in every ten TO fifteen
years. The eruption of 1881, as l have
stated, was the only one to cause any con-
Germ whatever.
1T should be made plain that while Kill
auea, which IS to be embraced in the pro-
posed park, is an active volcano. IL is not
one that offers any danger from eruption.
Perhaps it sounds rather odd to propose a
national park about the mouth of vol
cano. The average person will shudder
with horror at the thought That's because
they are not acquainted with the perfectly
harmless nature OF our crater.
"In the intervals between the more vio-
lent periods of Kllauea, lasting sometimes
for years intense heat is retained in all OF
the lava vents, as well as throughout miles
Of assures, extending in various directions
upon the floor of the caldera. ANY infiam-
mable material exposed to these openings
takes but few moments to become
scorched or ignited odd formations of lava
are found all over the floor including caves
and bridges, within or under which spaces
are found large enough to shelter many
people.
"A resort hotel has been built within a
comparatively short distance of the mouth
Of the volcano. When the volcano is &C.
tive. as IL has been several times during
the last year. for instance, the hotel guests
are treated TO the sight of earth's primeval
forces working overtime. The manifesto
tions within the crater are then such that
will remain vivid so long as his mind re-
tains any record Of life's experiences.
Usually there is an earthquake shock,
never In times past violent. to herald the
return of liquid lava into sight within the
vast pit. Its rise therein is gradual. but
attended with wondrous Tyrotechnic dis
plays that may be viewed with safety from
the rim OF the abyss. At intervals. some
times only few minutes apart, a fresh
tide or molten rock OF deep crimson color
wells UP from the bowels OF the earth.
spreading all over the previous layer. now
congealed into a black crust. Ii dashes
with roar against the side OF the nit
sending up splashes of many colored spray.
"Of course. the longer an active pertod
lasts the wider the surface OF the lake |
of fire becomes and the more multitudinous |
ere the phenomena. The volcano In ac- !