The times., 1899-11-13
THE ISLAND OF TUTTILA.
Strategic Importance OF Pago-P Pngo
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Tutuila. the Samoan island which fails
to the United States in the recent ar
rangement completed between Germany
and England, subject 70 ratification bv
the United States Government. becomes
it is said. an extremely valuable addition
10 the possessions OF the Un.tzd States in
the Pacific With but small area and
population, which according to the Treas
ury Bureau OF Statistics, are but ffty-four
square miles and 1900 population. it pos
sesses the most valuable island harbor in
the South Pacific and perhaps in the en-
lire Pacific Ocean. \ representative OF the
London Times recently in Washington.
who had visited and was thoroughly fam
iliar with not only the Samoan Islands, but
those of the Pacific generally. pronounce Ell
the harbor at Pago Pago in the Island
of Tutuila the best in all the Pacific ana
the Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian group
the next in value as harbor, the United
States thus being the possessOr OF the chief
island harbors and ports OF call, supply
and repairs in the Pacific Ocean
Commercially. the Samoan Islands, sing
ly or as a group, are unimportant so far
as their local production OF consumption is
concerned, but extremely important in
their relation TO the commerce OF any ua
ton desiring TO cultivate trans-PacifC
commerce. Mr.. Coward. who was sent by
the United States Government to the Sa-
moan Islands TO arrange for treaty with
reference to the harbOr of PagO Pago,
said: The capacity Of this harbor is suf-
fcient for the accommodation OF large
fleets; land locked, it is safe from hurrl-
canes and storms, and could easily be de-
Tended from land or sea attack at a small
expense. In a naval point of view it is the
key position to the Samoan group, and
likewise TO central Polynesia. and is espe-
cially located for the protection Of Ameri
can commerce. The Samoan archipelago is
by reason Of its geographical position in
central Polynesia, lying in the course OF
vessels from San Francisco TO Auckland,
from Panama 10 sydney, and from Val
paraisO to China and Japan and from being
outside the hurricane track, the most val
liable group in the South Pacific. Situated
halfway between Honolulu and Auckland,
Pago-PagO would be a most convenient
stopping place or coaling station for yes
sells or steamers either for supplies or the
exchange OF commodities. With the Pacific
mail steamers making it a port for coaling.
il would necessarily become the controlling
commercial place in that part of Poly
nesia."
The above statement made by Mr. Coward
in 1887 applied simply to the harbor Of
Pago Pago. and its Importance increases
with the occupancy and complete ownership
of the entire island by the United States
and becomes additionally important in view
of the control By the United States Of the
Hawaiian and Philippine groups. the pros
pectjye construction of an isthmian canal.
and the rapidly growing commerce between
IL. rAN
Asia and Oceanica, which buy annually
more than billion dollars worth Of goods.
and nearly all Of this Of the class of mer-
chandise which the people OF the United
States desire to sell.
The interest Of the United States in the
Samoan Islands, and especially Tutuila.
which now passes completely under our
control provided the agreement OF Germany
and England is ratified by the United
States, began in 1872 when Commander
Meade, of the United States Navy. made a
treaty with Mauuga the great chief of the
Island of Tutuila, by which the port OF
Pago Pago was to become the property
Of the United States on condition that a
friendly alliance be made between the ISL
and this Government. President Grant. in
a message sending the treaty to the United
States Senate in that year. said: The ad-
treaty processes TO make are so great, in
view OF the advantageous position of Tu-
tuila seaport as a coaling station for
steamers between San Francisco and Aus
tralia, that / should not hesitate to recon-
mend its adoption but for the obligation of
protection on the part Of the United States
which it seems TO imply
This obligation OF protection was
afterward modified by the Senate. which
then ratified the treaty, which in turn
was accepted by the Samoan chief. the
final treaty was signed on January :.
1873, and the ratidcations EXCHANGED
February 13 by which the right to estab-
lish at Pago Pago a station for coaIing.
naval supplies. freedom of trade. com
mercial treatment as a favored nation, AMI
extra territorial consular juris LECTION
were secured to the United States. The
extension Of United States control over
the entire island according TO the plan
proposed by Germany and Great Britain
would consummate the wishes expressed
by the chief of the island in the draft of
the treaty forwarded to the United States
in 1872. and thus bring the people of the
island into closer relations with this Gov
ernment for which they asked on that o.
casion.
Commercially, as already indicated. the
island is extremely important in its re-
latiOn to transportation between the United
States and Asia and Oceanica, though un-
Important as to local production or con-
sumption, the entire importation of the
Samoan group being but a half million dol
lars annually the bulk coming from the
Australian colonies. the nearest sources of
supply while the United States and Ger
many divide about equally the remainder
of the trade
The port of Pago Pago was shortly
after the treaty. surveyed by the United
States Government and a cOaling station
was established last year. In considering
the value of Tutuila and its harbOr Of
Pago Pago. it is proper to add tuat the
Samoan naval disaster of 1889 in which
a number of naval vessels were wrecked
during a severe storm. occurred in the
rOadstead of Apia on the Island Of UpOlu
and not in the land-lCcked and well pro
tected harbOr of PagO PaSO.
CAREER OF J. E. HUNTOON.
The aInn Reported to Have Carried
SI,OOO,OOO Life Insurance.
NEW YORK. Nov, 12.-James f. Hun