New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-03
SAMOAN ISLANDS VALUE.
DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUP AND IT'S
GOVERNMENTS.
IMPORTANCE AS COALING AND REPAIR
STATIONs-IMPORTS AND ENFORIs-
FEW FOREIGN 1NHABITANTs
inv TELEGRAPH TO THE rniBuNE.l

STATIONS-lMIOKlS AMI I--Ni Ni''N
FEW FOREIGN INHABITANTS
Inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Washington. April The people Pro"uc-
tions and commercial and strategic importance
OF the Samoan Islands are discussed In the cur
rent number NJ the Monthly Summary of Com
merce and Finance" Just issued by the Treas
ury Bureau Of Statistics. The islands are 10
Gated about two thousand miles south ana three
hundred miles west OF the Hawaiian isiahas'
and Ia degrees south OF the equator. ihey I've
in an almost direct line between san rrahclsco
and Australia and slightly south OF the ulrect
steamship line connecting the Philippines Win
the proposed Panama or Nicaragua inter
oceanic canal. Their special importance there-
fore lies more in their position as coallng ana
repair stations on these great highways OF COIL
merce than in their direct commercial value.
their population being small and their Imports
and exnorts OF connparatively little importance
The group consists OF ten Inhabited ana two
uninhabited Islands. with an area OF l,'W
square miles. and an aggregate population ac-
cording to latest estimates OF $4,000 people. OF
whom over 900 are British subjects I'D Ter
mans. % Americans. - French and p OF other
nationaIities while the remainder are natives
of the Polynesian race The bulk Of the popuia-
savaN and Tutuila; the number in Cpolou peing
16 coo in Saveii 10 800. and in Tutuila 300.
The islands are of volcanic origin but fertile
producing cocoanuts. cotton, sugar and cofee'
the most important. however. being cocoanuts'
from, which the copra Of commerce is obtained
by driving the kernel of the cocoanut. the copra'
which is exported to Europe and the unl'ed
States being used in the manufacture or cocoa
nut OIL The expectation Of copra from the ISL
ands in 1896 amounted to 12,o6J.%D POUNDS.
valued at S231 312 a considerable proportion
OF this was exported TO the United States;
larger proportion however, to Germany, whose
citizens control it's commerce through tradihg
company. which has long been established there
The cocoanut and copra production however
varies greatly from year to year, owing 10 the
fact that many Of the cocoanut trees nave Deen
DESTROYED in recent wars between native lac
lions a single individual being able, by cutting
out the crown OF the tree. permanently 10 ue-
strov in two minutes time the fruit-bearng
Qualities of trees which require several years for
their growth
ROYAL, HOUSES IN THE ISLANDS.
r,o oo,ornuent Of the Samoan islands had
hcen from time immemoria under the two royal
houses OF Malietoa and Tupea, except on the
chiefs In 1873 at the suggestion Of foreign
rosidents q House OF Mobiles and House OF
REPRESENTATIVES were established. with Mahe'oa
Iounepa and the chief OF the royal mouse Oh
r,,roa az ioint Kings subsequently Malietoa
hacorno solo King. In 1887 he was deposed by
tho German Government upon the claim OF UNI
inst treatment OF German subjects, who formed
the hulk OF the foreign population on the 1871
and and was deported first to German New
Guinea and then to the Cameroons. In Africa
and finally. in 1883. to Hamburg. Tamasese'
native chief being meantime proc!arheu u! '''
Germans as King though against the pro'cs'
OF the British and American consuls al "aihoa'
Mataafa a near relative OF Malietoa' maue "a'
upon Tamasese and succeeded to the hhss"p'
In 1889 a conference between the represent
atiyes Of the American, British ana "e'n'a"
Governments was held AT Berlin AT winch IL
treaty was signed by the three Powers guarah
teefng the neutrality Of the islands In whlch
the citizens OF the three signatory Powers "oulu
have equal rights of residence. trade and per-
sonal protection. They agreed to recognize the
Independence OF the Samoan Government anu
the free right OF the natives to elect their cnei
or King and choose a form Of government ac-
cording to their own laws and customs
JURISDICTION OF THE COURT
A Supreme Court was established. consisting
=, ono nudge who is styled the Chief Justice Of
Samoa and who is at present w. l.. Chambers
an American form rly a resident OF the state
OF Alabama To this court arc referred:
Fjrst-Au civil suits concerning real property
situated in Samoa.
second-All civil suits between natives and
foreigners or between foreigners Of different ma
tionaties. ,.
Thrd-Al crimes committed by natives against
foreigners or committed by such foreigners as
are not subject to any consular Jurisdiction.
The future alienation OF lands was prohibited
with certain specified exemptions Inc capltd'
was located at Apia. the chief town OF the group
OF islands. and local administration provided
for the municipal district OF Apia A comrnls
sion was appointed TO investigate titles to LANDS
alleged to have been purchased from the ma,
tives and this commission, In 1871 completed
its labors confirming about Ij,WO acres or lands
IT, Germans 10000 acres to Britons. and Zl"t
acres to Americans though much Of this land
has since changed hands. Malletoa VINO had
been deported was restored as King In Novem-
her 1859 and continued as such until his death.
which occurred on August -. ISIS, when the
consuls OF the three Powers. with the Chiet JUS
tee az president. took charge Of the admins
ration pending the election or n successor II
% ont ~ the election and recognition Of this
successor to King Malietoa that the recent dls-
agreements between the representatives or the
three Governments maintaining the JOINT pro-
tectorate over the Islands have occurred
CEssION OF PAGO-PAGO.
Especial interest attaches 10 these Islands
| from the standpoint of the United States by
| reason OF the fact that the harbor ~ Page
! Pago in the island OF Tutua the southernmost
| Of the group. was coded to the United States
for a naval and coeling station first In lS72. and
| afterward confirmed by treaty signed at
Washington. January Il. 1873 and ratihcations
| exchanged on February 13 Of the same year. by
| which the United States received the right to
| establish at that harbor station for coaling.
| naval supplies. freedom OF trade. commercial
treatment as a favored nation. and extra terri