The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-06-13
THE VALUE OF SAMOA,
DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUP AND
HOW THE POWERS CONTROL 1T.

Germany Twice HAS Caused Trouble i'm
islands-Trado Small. But Importance
Lies In Strategic Position on the
Highways of Commerce.
The people, productions and COM
mercial and strategic importance of
the Samoan Islands are discussed in
the Monthly Summary of Commerce
and Finance, just issued in Washing
ton by the Treasury Bureau of Stats
tics. The islands are located about
two thousand miles south and three
hundred miles west of the Hawaiian
Islands, and fourteen degrees south
of the equator. They lie IN IN almost
direct line between San Francisco and
Australia, and slightly south of the
direct steamship line connecting the
Philippines with the proposed Panama
or Nicaragua interoceGnic canal.
Their special importance, therefore.
lies more IL their position as coaling
and repair stations on these great
highways of commerce than in their
direct commercial value, their popula-
ton being small and their imports and
exports of comparatively little imuor-
lance.
The group consists of ten inhabited
and two uniuhebited islands, with an
area OF 100 square miles, and an
aggregate population, according to
latest estimates, OF SO, 900 people. of
whom over 200 are British subjects.
10 Germans, twenty-five Americans.
twenty-five French and twenty-five of
other nationalities, while the remain
der are natives, of the Polynesian
race. The bulk of the population is
located in IL three islands of Upolou.
Savaii and TUtuila: the number in
Upolou being 1900, in Savaii II, 800
and III Tutuila 300.
TWELVE ISLANDS ~ ALL.
The islands are of volcanic ORIGIN.
but fertile, producing cocoanuts, cot
ton, sugar and coffee, the most I'M
portant, however, being cocoanuts.
from which the copra of commerce is
obtained by drying the kernel of the
cocoanut, the copra, which is exported
to Europe and the United States, be-
ing used IN the manufacture of cocoa
nut OIL. The expectation OF COBRA
from the islands in 1896 amounted TO
IL, 300, 500 pounds, valued at 1921, 1872.
A considerable proportion of this was
exported to the United States; larger
proportion, however, to Germany.
whose citizens control its commerce
through trading company, which
has long been established there. The
cocoanut and copra production. how
ever, varies greatly from year to wear,
owing to the fact that many of the
cocoanut trees have been DESTROYED IN
recent wars between native factions
single individual being able. by cat
ting out the crown of the tree. per
manently to destroy in two minutes
time the fruit-bealing qualities of
trees which require several years for
their growth.
THE GOVERNMENTS.
The governments of the Samoan
Islands had been from time immemor-
lal under the two royal houses of
MalIetoa and Tupea, except on the
island of Tutuila, which was governed
by native chiefs. In 1873, at the sug-
gestion of foreign residents, n House
OF Mobiles and a House of Representa-
tlves were established, with Malieton
Laupepa and the chief OF the ROYAL
house of Iupea as joints Kings. Sub
sequently Malietoa became sole King
In 1887 he was deposed by the Ger
man Government upon the claim of
unjust treatment of German subjects
who formed the bulk of the foreign
population on the island, and was de-
ported first to German New Guinea
and then to the Cameroons, in Africa
Iamasese, native chief, being mean
time proclaimed by the Germans rs
King, though against the protest of
the British and American cousuls Mt
Samoa. Mataafa, near relative of
Malietoa, made war upon Tamasese
and succeeded to the Kingship. In
1889 conference between the repre-
sentatives of the American. British
and German Governments was held at
Berlin, ut which a treaty was signed
by the three Powers, guaranteeing the
neutrality of the islands, in which the
citizens of the three siguatory Powers
would have equal rights Of residence.
trade and personal protection. They
agreed TO recognize the iudcpendence
OF the Samoan Government and fbe
- w NV va NiAN IlAliNfN TO erect their
chief or King and choose 70 form of
government according TO their own
laws and customs.
A Supreme Court was established.
consisting of one Judge. who is STYLED
the Chief Justice of Samoa, aud who
is az present W. L. Chambers. an
American, formerly q resident Of the
State of Alabama. To this court arc
referred.
COURTS DUTIES.
First-All civil suits concerning
real property situated i'm Samoa.
Sccoud-All civil suits between
natives aud foreigners or between
foreigners OF different uationalities.
Third-AIl crimes committed bv
natives against foreigners or commit
ted by such Foreigners org are not sub.
Jcct TO any consular juris diciou.
The future alienation of lands was
prohibited, with certain specified OK
cmpJious. The capital was located nj
Apia. the chief town Of the group of
islands, and local administration
provided for the municipal district of
Apln. n commission was appointed
TO investigate titles to- lands alleged to
have been purchased from the natives.
Cud this commission, i'm 1891. com
UlptsI liza lobYrs r.p Grr.tt.. lt