Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1913-12-30


Hawaii which leads to the
great crater of Kilauea.
Tourists may rejoice in the beauty,
hear the song of birds, smell the fresh
aroma of the wilderness, feast their
eyes on the long vistas OF distant
green, the view of the dashing surf,
the far-away ocean and blue sky. They
drive along great forests or rare
woods, watch the waving of the grain,
note how all the earth seems lush
with sunshine, warmth and beauty Ia
he mid-Pacific paradise and Of sud
den see the land of desolation.
Almost. without warning the auto
mobile plunges over forbidding lava
and the earth Is dark with the deadly
1ow which Moana Loa and Kilauea
have belched forth. One is now riding
over lava beds-pre-Adamite perhaps
over layers that dubbed forth thou
sands, hundreds and even as recently
as so years ago, and some concerning
which there are persons living who
can tell the story. 1t is hades, all the
LlOi . tCiiiptO bOSoooC ~ 10 CAAy - ~"
hours ride from the beauties of the
tropics. Then comes the smoke and
steam of the innermost center and
one feels that in the earth beneath
or waters under it there is nothing to
equal 1t.
Finest OF All Monuments.
This is Kilauea the terrible and the
fascinating, this is the volcano which
our government is planning to set
aside as a national monument and no
monument yet preserved can equal It.
The proposition has been long dis
cussed and of late has taken definite
form. This is the largest active vol
cano in the world and also one of the
most accessible, and for these reasons
1t seems fitting that the United States
should distinguish 1t above all others.
The volcano is situated on an eleva-
ton of 1000 feet, on belt road
around the largest island, Hawaii, on
the slope of Moana Loa, which also
has crater. occasionally active. at Its
summit, nearly $4,000 feet high. 1t
10 PiOpOoCo " ihSiodC 'hO odlhlhlt Vi a
ter in the park. the strip Of land be-
tween the two craters and some OF the
surrounding country in which are sui
phur banks, lava trees, tree ferns,
forests Of rare woods, rare birds and
other objects Of interest.
Hawaiians are anxious to obtain
this national monument, and as an aid
to its establishment they have built
an excellent automobile road to the
lake of fire In the crater. Plans are
maturing for the establishment of a
volcano and earthquake observatory,
and congress has been asked to create
the proposed park. Sentiment is gen.
orally in favor of this plan for the
islands of Hawaii are full of interest
and the volcanoes are but a part OF
the attractions which they offer to
sightseers. In all of the eight inhab-
tied islands there are wonders which
make this-the youngest known land
distinctive for beauty. There are
high precipices, great valleys, living
and dead craters, and in particular
oiA luliSo liOih ihohoiuiu -tuCIS Is Inc
Nuuana Pail, from which one Of the
most beautiful views In the world can
be- obtained
1t was only two years ago that the
fine carriage and automobile road was
built right into the crater Of Kilauea,
but 1t has already begun to attract
tourists, who consider it the most
remarkable road in the world, as 1t Is
cut through the hard lava. Some one
has jokingly called 1t the road to
hell but if so, it is pleasant one.
It skirts along the edge of the crater.
gives views of the lava lake, has no
sharp turns or abrupt curves and In
the dangerous parts fourfoot wall
has, been constructed of lava rock
Nothing can be more charming than
the surrounding country. One rides
through ferns and native woods of
varying shades of green. the whole
making harmony of color. Some of
the trees are Of wonderful wood. 40
rare that former Hawaiians prize them
highly for the palace of the king. and
American furniture manufacturers
are anxious to obtain them. These ara
the royal trees of Hawaii, because of
very fine and beautiful grain and col
oring.
IL is somewhat remarkable that one