The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-05
Mr.. CHAMBERS REPORT
II Includes All the Title Papers to
Samoan Lands.
GERMANS ARE IN THE LEAD
Claims of Acreage Exceed the En-
tire Area of the Land-The Com
missioner Not Highly Enthused
Over the Country.

WASHINGTON, April 4-The report of
w. L. Chambers, United States land COM
missioner to Samoa, dated Feb. 3, 1895.
was made public to-day. Chambers was
one OF three commissioners appointed by
the treaty powers of Great Britain, Ger
many and the United States. under the
provisions of the Berlin treaty, to adjust
and settle all claims OF aliens to lands in
Samoa. The annual meeting of the COM
mittee was held JAM A, 1894, at
Apia. The report includes all the
title papers to Samoan lands and
are of considerable value. An
exhibit attached to the report shows that
the total number OF claims filed before the
commission was 3,492. OF these 1 ,422 were
German, 1,757 British, 307 American. 325
French and 10 miscellaneous. The total
claims aggregated 1851. .s92 acres, while
the island contains only 900 acres.
Only per cent. of the claims were con-
firmed. The vast bulk of acreage
claimed by Americans was rejected be-
cause of the manifestly inadequate con-
sideration given for IL and because the
titles were defective under several of the
provisions of the treaty.
About 2l,OOO acres were confirmed to
Americans. Most of them belonged to a
corporation composed of San Francisco
stockholders. AT the time the investiga-
ton took place." says Chambers, ..this
corporation was insolvent and is still re-
ported insolvedt. The titles were con-
frmed to certain trustees. None Of the
stockholders resided in Samoa, and so far
as my investigation of the matter went,
none of them had ever resided there. nor
has the company or its trustees On agent
in the country. Deduct ng the land con-
a l.. N ~. l.
innate that not exceeding 1000 acres were
confirmed to claimants. Almost all the
land of this San Francisco company is for
sale, and Is liable to be sold, il at all, TO
England's or Germany's subjects rather
than to an American, for whatever in
ducements there may be for English or
German investment in the Samoan
Islands. cannot see that there exists any
reason for further American invest
ments."
Continuing Mr.. Chambers says he heard
of only 10 bona fide American subjects in
the country exclusive of officials and does
not believe there are 50 Americans there
all told, including those who claim citizeu-
ship through naturalization.
In reference to Page Pago bay, Mr..
Chambers said that the claims of the
United States government were examined
and confirmed, but that the claims are by
no means SO valuable as the American
public seems to think. What are thought
to bo the most valuable parts of the shore
of the bay have never been acquired
by the United States. The harbor
is so deep and the bay so small that not
more than three or four ships could be
anchored there in case the wind was blow
ing either into the mouth of the harbor or
nH Hah0 He a. - n.
taken to acquire such additional rights as
may make those already held of use. He
argues, however, that the station is not
likely to be of further use, and thinks the
advisability of making further invest-
ments there should be fully considered
before taking any further steps in the
matter.