The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-05
AN EYE ON PAGO-PAGO.
The President VIII Establish a
Naval Base in Samoa.

Chicago, Aug. 5.-A special to the
Record from Washington, says:
The president has decided to make
practical use of American rights at
Pago-Pago harbor, Samoa, and the es-
tabliShment of a fully equipped naval
cOaIing station there will be undertaken
at once. With this end in view Civil
Engineer Frank P. Chambers, now on
duty at the New York navy yard, has
been ordered to Washington for con-
Sultation with the authorities prior to
departing next week, with official in
structiOns and full power to carry out
the important project
PagO-PagO is the only harbor of any
value in the Samoan group and the one
considered by naval officers of scarcely
less strategic Importance in the Pacific
ocean than Pearl HarbOr, Hawaii. The
decision to utilize the concession Secur-
ed by Admiral Meade 25 years ago, CIV
ing the United States permanent own
erShip of the harbOr, indicates sufficient
~ the administrations appreciation of
the vastly extended sphere of American
interests in the Pacific 1t is the in
auguration of a great naval and COM
merc1al policy in that direction due In
great measure to the responsibilities in
CURED in Asiatic waters.
Few details have been disclosed re-
garding the maintaining of a naval es
adjustment at Samoa. 1t is known,
however, that Civil Engineer Chambers
will estimate for the benefit of congress
the appropriations essential to the
Pago-Pago. In the meantime he will
superintend the construction there of
wharf with outfit of automatic coal
ing machinery similar to the modern
plant now being installed at Dry Tor
tugas. This preliminary work is rem
dered possible through two apprOpria-
lions heretofore made by congress for
naval stations in the Pacific, which
provide a balance of $3.50, 900 Immediate
ly available One of these amounting
to $4,000 remains out of an appropria-
ton of recent date specifying no partic-
ular locality for its expenditure, al
though at the time it was understood
to be intended for the preliminary inn
prOVement of Pearl HarbOr. Hawaii,
now being United States territory and
sure of elaborate Improvement and for
tification can wait, it is thought, while
the urgency at Samoa is imperative.
Another $50, 600 remains unexpended
from the sum of three times that amount
which was placed at the disposal of the
executive more than Is years ago. Out
of the latter appropriation 5000 tons of
coal were sent in a schooner from Phil
adelphia and landed at Pago-PagO,
where sheds were built over it. Most Of
this fuel has already been used by
American warships. On account of the
difficulties of transporting it from the
shore to the ships by means of small
lighters, however, the locality was not
popular with naval officers as a base of
supplies, although every official report
from commanders visiting the harbOr
was enthusiastic in recommendation
of its improvement and maintenance
by the United States.
The great advantages to be gained by
the possession of this station are evil
| dent from a glance at the map of the
! Pacific ocean. It is situated exactly A.
! $50 miles from San Francisco and 4,012
| miles from Yokohama, the distance be-
| tween Yokohama and San Francisco
! being 1871 miles. PagO-PagO is 2,263
| miles from Honolulu. the latter Ameri-
can port being just about the same dis
/ lance from San Francisco. The Island
| of Guam, in the Ladrones, is barely g.,
! 600 miles from Samoa, and Manila is
| just 4, 900 miles away. It is understood
| that one or more of the American gun
| boats now on duty in Cuban waters will
| start for Samoa as soon as the block
ade is raised, going by way of Cape
| Horn, and will display the American
| flag there until relieved by other YES
| sells. These gunbOats were built spec
| tally for duty in the Pacific, but were
| detained on the eastern coast of the
| United States when the war began.
| One of them, the Helena, accompanied
| the Oregon on her famous cruise from
| California to Cuba and will probably be
| the first to reach Samoa.