The record-union., 1895-04-05
Special to the REcoRD-Ux1ox.


WAsHINGroN. April 4.-The report Of
w. l.. Chambers, United States Land
commissioner to Samoa, dated February
3, 1888, was made public to-day. Mr..
Chambers was one of three Commission
ers appointed by the treaty powers of
Great Britain, Germany and the United
States under the provisions of the Berlin
treaty to adjust and settle all claims OF
aliens to land in Samoa. The annual
meeting of the committee was held jan
uary 4, 1894, at Apia.
Inc report includes all the title papers
TO Samoan lands, and is of considerable
value. An exhibit attached to the report
shows that the total number of claims
hIed before the committee was 3,4g2, OF
these l,422 were German, ], ,757 British. 3C7
American, 326 French, and I3 misceI-
laneous. The total claims aggregate l, ,69i,-
762 acres, while the island contains $50. OyJ
acres. Only S per cent. OF the claims
were confirmed.
Inc vast bulk of acreage claimed b,y
Americans was rejected because Of th3
m2nlfesLly Inadequate consideration
given for 1t, and because the titles were
QeIectlVe under several of the provisions
OF the treaty. About q, 900 acres were
belonged to corporation COMPOSED of
san francisco stockholders.
AZ the time the investigation
took place." says Mr.. Chambers this
corporation was lnsolvent, and is stiI re-
ported lnsOlyeut. The titlea NVera CON
Hrhleu 10 certain trustees. None Of the
stockholders resided i'll Samoa, and so TAR
as my investigation of tho matter went.
none OF them had ever resided there. nor
mas the company or It's trustees an agent
IN the country. DeduCtiug the land con-
urIueu TO this company, | think IL a sa{o
estimate that not exceeding 1000 acres
were confirmed TO claimants. Almost Ali
Inc Iand OF the San Francisco cOmpauy is
Tor sale, and ls liable 10 be sold. ii at all.
to highlands or Germany's subjects
rather than to Americans, Tor Whatever
Inducements there may be Tor English or
German investment in the Samoan
Islands, cannot see that there Q lists auv
reason for further American invest
meuts."
Continuing, Mr.. Chambers saws ho
heard OF only nineteen bona iide Amer
lean subjects IN the country, exclusive OF
oLnclals, anu does not believe there are
thlrty Americans there ali told, iuclud-
ing those who claim citizenship CurOugu
naturalization. uG says there are several
We!i-tO-dO Americans engaged in meT-
cautIIe pursuits, one OF whom Is the
WeaiJhlest man in the country. Some of
sLiSSO shL = mar ElSu 10 l&llNB women. and
PROBABLY will never return 10 the uItei
States.
u have been thus explicit" he con-
tinued, ''in reference to the prouertv
owned by Americans, as well as TO tie
number OF Americans IN the country. in
ORDER tnaJ the department may know our
relationship 10 Samoa as they were de-
YeiOped III the course CT the iuvestiga-
lions into land titles, and because / con
ceIye 1t my duty to let our Government
know how Insignificant sucu interests
really arep
In reference to Pago-Pago Bav. Mr..
Chambers says that the claim OF the
CnIted states Government was examined
ana confirmed, but that the claims are by
no means SO valuable as the American
public seems TO think. Whatars thought
TO he the most valuable parts OF the suOra
OF the Day have never been acquired by
the United states. The harbOr Is so deem
ana the bay so small that not more than
three or four ships could he anchored
Lhere IN case the wind was blowing either
into tue mouth Of the harhor or oil shore.
de recommends that If our rights are
considered TO be really OF value, steps
should be taken TO acquire such additional
rights as may make those already held Of
use. lie argues, however, that the sta
ton Is not likely TO be Of further use, and
thinks the adyisability Of max ing further
investments there should be fully con-
sldered before taking any further steps IN
the matter.