Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-06-08

SAAoAsA VIZ I1O"4N 1Oo114ON VI
SAMOA. .
jects and the others mostly German. The
chief business of the whites seems to be to
domineer over the natives and swindle
them in money transactions. In 1892 the
imposts raised from foreigners amounted
to ia, 565 German marks, of which the
Germans paid 60 per cent, the English 20
per cent, Americans 10 per cent and others
8 per cent. During that year German
houses imported 81 per cent of the total
imports, English 20 per cent, American Is
per cent and others 10 per cent. Of the
exports German houses exported 60 pei
cent n English houses So per cent. 1t
will thus be seen that our commercial in
terests in the islands are not very large at
present, but the strategic Importance of
Samoa is universally recognized, and the
necessity of maintaining our naval and
coaling station at Pago Pago is generally
regarded as the principal consideration
that induced the United States to enter in
to and continue the joint protectorate with
Germany and England.
The Samoan islands are situated in the
south Pacific about l, $50 miles north of
New Zealand and 400 miles northeast of
Fiji. They are :, 332 miles distant from
San Francisco and are directly in the route
of tho steamers plying between that port
and Australia. Savaii, Upolu and Tu-
tuila are the largest and most important
islands of the group. On Tutuila is stu
ated the harbor of Pago Page, the naval
and coaling station which was coded to
the United States in 1879 by a treaty made
with King Maungwa.
This harbor is said to be the most re-
markable n in all Polynesia. In shape
1t resembles a section of a crooked neck
squash. 1t is about two miles long and
will average one-third Of a mile in width.
1t is easy to approach and enter for vessels
OF any size, II the water inside is deep
and without any distractions whatever.
The curve is near the entrance, and this,
together with the high hills on all sides,
shuts it off completely from the sea and
winds, making it appear more like a small
inland lake than al arm of the sea.
There is room here to anchor a large fleet
and keep them safe from the most violent
hurricane that may prevail outside.
Writing of this harbor, an officer of the
United States steamer Adams, which took
possession OF the place, said: "Pago Page
is the key position Of the Samoan group,
and also Of central Polynesia, and is valu-
able as the chief stronghold for the protec-
ton OF commerce in the south Pacific wa
tiers. The islands are in the path Of vessels
from San Francisco to Auckland, from
Panama to Sydney and from Valparaiso
to China and Japan. They lie outside
the track of hurricanes, and this helps to
make them the most valuable islands in
the south Pacific. Half way between
Honolulu and Auckland, Pago Pago is an
accessible coaling and supply station for
steamers, n with the Pacific mail steam
ers making it a port for coaling it would
necessarily become the chief commercial
place in that part Of Polynesia. That is
the view held by the Germans, the Eng
lish and tie Americans"
The present international agreement
made by the three powers in respect of
Samoa was drawn up at Berlin five years
ago. A conference was held at which