The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-02-06
PREPARING FOR
THE LAVA FLOW
TopographerS to Be Sent Into
the Volcanic Region to Map
Out the HoIloWS.

With two widely differing purposes
in view, and yet both to be compre.
hended in the .one final result, topog.
raghers Of the Territory are pushing
forward with much more than average
activity the Typographical survey of the
great volcano region of the Island of
Hawai-.
The first and most immediate purpose
is of interest to all the people of the
Territory in peculiarly intense way,
but it is of very vital interest to
certain portion of those who live on
the vast slopes of Mama Loa.
In other words, the warnings of sci
ence have been given, and the terri
torial government intends that such ad-
vance notices shall be needed. No one
knows, of course, when that fre.illed
mountain will break forth with the ter
rible strength that is hidden in its
depths, but that another eruption of
Mauna Loa Will occur within COM
paratively short time, is the expressed
belief of scientists; and it is the pur-
pose of the territorial government that
the citizens whose homes are spread out
upon the great slopes shall run only a
minimum chance of danger.
Mapping Flow in Advance.
They will know, approximately, where
the masses of lava will go when the
mountain vomits up the liquid fire from
her depths. The map to be made by
the tOpographers will indicate almost
to nicety the most probable directions
of the iava flows, what sections may
hope to escape without being overrun,
and what portions of the miles and
miles of slope may be prepared for the
worst when the time comes.
Such work as this has never before
been attempted in these Islands, but
upon the suggestion of Professor Il. A.
Jaggar, director of the Technology
Station at the Volcano, it will be car
red to completion as rapidly as possi-
BILE; for, while a flow is not expected
for at least two years from now there
lis no telling, assert the scientific men,
when Madame Pele will get on her dig
nifty and wrathfully assert herself by
} casting out that hot stuff which in years
and centuries gone by has buried many
square miles of smiling country.
Centering the Work.
Governor Frear is taking much in
, terest in the survey, and it is really
through the executive that the topog-
raghers are to be at once transferred
from their present fields of labor IN
the Hamakua district, whittier they had
: made their way from the North and
South Kohal6 districts, to the country
between Hilo and Kilauea.
"'It will have to be done anyway, some
day. said the Governor yesterday,
"and we quite agree with Professor
Jaggar that it is better to do 1T now,
for a flow may occur at any time. The
new survey will indicate what direc-
tions the flows will take, and for this
. reason the work cannot help but be OF
intense interest to all our people. The
householders and others on the slopes
are. of course, more Immediately inter
4 ested than any others
$ For Park Maps.
The second purpose for which the sur
. be heralded far and wide throughout
the United States, is that the fullest
!, data may be supplied the present con
, gress when it takes up the question OF
: making of the volcano district ma
tional park.
IL is learned upon the best of au-
thority that the present congress Is
favorably disposed to accept the offer
, of the people of Hawaii, as voiced by
an act OF the late territorial legisla-
ture, and make of the great volcano
region a national pleasure ground. IL
is conceded in Washington that in all
: the world there is nothing to compare
with Kilauea in terrible grandeur, and
that it is only proper for the federal
government to take hold of the tract
and care for it.
Governor Frear believes that If Il
good topographic survey map was made
: of the entire section proposed for park
, purposes the Washington authorities
would be more inclined to take up the
= matter in the very near future.
, ''Kilauea is one of the world s great
est wonders and most sublime sights,
!. said the territorial Executive yester
day, "and the national government
should acquire it and remain forever IN
control. \ national park on Hawaii
, would mean much not alone to that isl
!, and but to the entire Territory, and
: would be very happy if congress would
! make it an early matter of business to
: pass law creating 'Kilauea Nation
al Park.