The Holly chieftain., 1899-11-17

Il
suit in disappointment. The report
says: The copper deposits of Lepanto
seem rich and extensive. but very ex-
pensiye roads will be needed to render
them available The high quality of
some of the iron ores Of Luzon is be-
yond question, but the Ignite Of the
islands is not adapted TO iron smelling.
The so-called coal is good Ignite.
Its heating effect is from two-thirds to
three-quarters of that Of the best
steaming coal. There are great guam
titles of this fuel, and much of II prob
ably could be delivered at n profit on
vessels at $3.50 Mexican per ton"
Rear Admiral Schley received orders
Thursday to raise his flag on the Chi
cago on the 18th instant. BY this or
der Admiral Schley is formally placed
in command of the South Atlantic
station. Admiral Schley will proceed
to sea as soon after the nth as possi-
BILE. His squadron will consist Of the
Chicago and the Montgomery, al
though there is official authority for
the statement that the squadron may
be increased about the time that Ad-
miral Schley starts on his cruise to
South African waters. No orders which
will be made public will be given to
Admiral Schley to proceed to any par
ticular part of his station, although
It is known that he will cruise in South
African and East African waters. One
reason assigned for the fact that no
particular order will be given that the
admiral visit Delagoa bay or its vicini-
ty is that II the United States should
have a squadron there other nations
might seek to have sQuadrons there,
n1 hHg nj a
Great Britain has objected to anything
like general demonstration in those
waters, which demonstration was sug-
gested some time ago by France. 1t
was stated to-day that Admiral Schley
will first sail for the South Atlantic,
where he will cruise leisurely for
two weeks before starting for Cape
Town.
The State Department does not deny
that it is in correspondence with for
eign powers in regard to American
trade interests in China. The depart
ment has been devoting much atten-
ton to this subject ever since this ad-
ministration began. 1t has been the
policy of President Mckinley to pro-
tect in every way possible American in
terests in China without entering into
any alliances with any of the great
powers that are selling territory or ex-
erting influence to secure control of the
Chinese coast. 1t has been the policy of
the administration to protect our inter-
ests in the Orient without assisting Great
Britain to maintain the integrity of
China and without following the exam
pie OF European nations in securing
spheres of influence. The United States
has treaties with China which guaran-
tee the protection of our interests
there, and it is the purpose of the ad-
ministration to insist that these
treaties shall be inviolate The Presi.
dent does not admit that the spheres
Of influence of other nations can shut
out the American trade from treaty
ports in China. He has insisted, and
will insist, that these treaty ports shall
remain open to American trade wheth-
er they shall be controlled by England,
Russia, Germany, France or Italy.
BY the arrangement recently made
between the governments of the United
States, Great Britain and Germany,
the United States becomes possessed
of all the islands of the Samoan group
which lie east of the Hist meridian Of
longitude. These islands comprise
Tutuila, where is situated the harbor
Of Pago-Pago. and further east, Manua,
Oloosinga, Ofoo and Roso islands. Out
side of Tutuila in this group there is
no harbor and but one anchorage, sit
uated on the northwest side of Manua.
In Savaii there is only one harbor. for
ships, that Of Mataatu, exposed at all
seasons; and moreover during the per-
iod from December to April, when the
north winds are prevalent, 1t is dan
In ho toll 1f te,
no first-class harbor. Even that of Sa-
luafata, mentioned above, would re-
quire very considerable expenditure
to make 1t of any use, while the made
quacy of Apia as harbor was clearly
shown In the terribly destructive tenn
pest only few years ago. But in the
island of Tutuila besides five reef har-
bors similar to those in Upolu. there Is
the harbor Of Pago-Pago, which is
deep and land-locked basin whose easy
approach and perfect security for ves-
sells causes 1t to outweigh in value all
the other islands of the group. 1t Is
generally considered by naval experts
the finest harbor In the Pacific ocean.
The alacrity with which the Samoan
question was settled and the slight re-
sistance shown by the European pow
ers to the efforts Of the United States
to protect commercial interests in Chi
ma is regarded by the State Depart
ment officials as marking a new era in
the effectiveness Of diplomatic repre-
sentation emanating from Washington
due to the worldwide recognition that
this nation has advanced to first rank
among the great powers. This trans
formation dates practically from the
early part Of the present year. Prior
to that time, it is pointed out, the
European concert was disposed to set