The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-18
OUR SAMOAN ISLAND.
TuTULA A VALUABLE ADDITION TO
OUR POSSESSIONS.
small In Area nnd Population. But
Has the Mest Valuable Harbor In
south PaciAe-Falis to the United

state. Under Recent Agreement.
Special Dispatch to the acknowledgements.
WASHINGTON, Nov. is.-TGtatia. the
samoan Island which falls to the United
States Ia the recent arrangement COM
plessd between Germany and England.
subject 10 ratification by the United
skates government. becomes an extremely
valuable addition 40 the possessions Of
the United States I'm the Pacific. With
but small area and population. which.
according To the treasury bureau OF stat
isicss are but fifty-foar square miles and
svss population. IL possesses the most
Faluable island barber In the South Pa
enc and perhaps In the entire Pacific
ocean.
\ representative IF the London Times
recently In Washington. who had visited
ana was thoroughly familiar with not
only the Samoan Islands. bat those of the
Pacihc generally. pronounced the harbor
ni Pango-P ango. In the island of Tutuils,
the best In all the Pacific. and Pearl har-
Dor. 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 re-
pairs In the Pacific ocean.
Strategic Value Great.
Commercially the Samoan Islands, sing
~. or as group. are uninportant so far
GS at4fH or consumption
Is concerned. but extremely important In
their relation tn the commerce Of any ma
ton desiring to cultivate transpacihc COM
merce. Mr.. Coward. who was sent by
the United States government to the Sa-
moan islands 10 arrange for "A treaty with
reference to the harbor OF Pango-Pango,
said:
The capacity of this harhor Is suffi-
Gent for the accommodation OF large
fleets. Isandlocked. II is safe from hurri-
canes and storms and could easily be de-
Tended from land or sea attack at small
expense.
In naval point Of view II Is the key
position 10 the Samoan group and like
wise to Central Polynesia. and is especial
ly located for the protection OF American
commerce. The Samoan archipelago is.
by reason OF It's geographical position In
Central Polynesia. lying in the course OF
vessels from San Francisco 10 Auckland.
from Panama to sydney, and from Wall
paratso TO China and Japan. and from be-
Ing outside the hurricane track. the most
valuable group in the South Pacific. Sit
uated half way between Honolulu and
Auckland. Pango-Pango would be most
convenient stopping place or coGling sta
ton for vessels or steamers. either for
supplies or the exchange OF commodities.
With the Pacific mail steamers making II
a port for coaling. II would necessarily
became the controlling commercial place
in that part OF Polynesia"
Connects Honolulu and Manila.
The above statement made by Mr.. Cow
ard In 1887. applied simply 10 the harbor
of Pango-Pange, and Its importance in
creases with the occupancy and complete
ownership Of the entire Island By the Unit
ed States. and becomes additionally Inn
poriant In view OF the cnnlrol b. the Unit
Ell States Of the Hawaiian and Philippine
groups. the prospective construction OF al
isthmtau canal. and the rapidly growing
commerce OF the United States ard the
great markets of Asia and OcsaI,ica, which
buy annually more than hilion dollars
worth OF goods and nearly all OF this Of
the class Of merchandise which the peo-
pie OF the United States desire 10 sell.
The interest of the United States In the
Samoan islands, and especially Tutuiia.
which now passes completely under our
control. provided the agreement OF Ger
many and England Is ratified by the Unit
"a States, began in is12, when Commander
Meade, OF the United States navy, made a
treaty with Maunga. tne great chief o.
the Island of Tutaila, by which the port
Of Pango-Pango was 10 become the prop
erty OF the United States On condition that
a friendly alliance he made between the
island and this government.
Grant Saw Its Value.
President Grant. In a message sending
the treaty to the United States senate in
that year. said: ''fhe advantages OF the
concessions which the treaty processes to
make are so great. In view Of the advan-
fageous position of Tutai4a seaport. as
Francisco and Australia, that should not
hesitate 10 recommend It's adoption but for
the obligation 81 protection on the part
ot the United States which 1t seems to i'm
ply"
This obligation of protection" was aft
erwari modified by the senate, which then
ratified the treaty. which in turn was ac-
cepted by The Samoan chief the final treaty
being signed CD January J. fSss, and the
ratification exchanged on February Is by
which the right 20 establish at Pang0-
pango a station for ccaiing, naval supplies
freedom Of trade commercial treatment as
81 favored nation and extra-terFifcrtal con-
sWiar Jurisdiction we're secured by the
United States. The extension OF United
States control over the entire island. ae-
cording 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 forssrded TO
the people OF the island into closer ra.a-
ttona VITA this government for which they
asked or that occasion,
Has Commercial Value.
Commercially. as already indicated the
island II extremely important In its rela-
lion to transportation between the United
States and Asia and ticsaniCa. though Ga~
important as 70 local production or con-
sumption the entire importation II the Sa-
moan group being bat half milton dol
lars Annually, the BULK coming from the
Australian co.onteS. the nearest sources
of supply, while tire United States and
Germany divide about equally the remain
der n The trade.
The port of paugo- pango WIS. shortly
after TIA treaty. surveyed by fhe United
States government ard 2 coating station
Was established last year. In considering
she value af T0tufis and irs harhor 81
pangD~ Pango, il il proper 10 add that the
Samoan naval disaster Of fsSe. ia which a
number ct naval vessels were wrecked
durfn. a severe storm, occurred in the
roads.ead % As5s. On iA1e ISLAND Of T'pafa.
and not iT the sAnA-40ekaz5 and wetf~nrss-
tecfed harsor OF Pango~Fanxo.
All Quiet ut samoa.
SAN FRANCISCO, N0v. r-.~~A9vfces 10
me Associated Press fvcfn Apsa. samoa
dates SoveuSer = received today per
stsarner Alar,sas. .rorT! Aus.rsIlAn parts