Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-01-25
OUR NEW ISLAND OF TUTUILA.
The Best Island in the South Pacific
Falls to the United States.


many and England, subject to ratifica-
ton by the United States government,
becomes an extremely valuable addi-
ton to the possessions of the United
States in the Pacific, With but small
area and population, which, according
to thetreasury bureau of statistics, are
about fifty-four square miles and 1000
population, it possesses the most val
liable harbor in the south Pacific and
perhaps in the entire Pacific ocean. A
representative of the London Times re-
Gently in Washington, who had visited
and was thoroughly familiar with not
only the Samoan islands, but those of
the Pacific generally, pronounced the
harbor of Pango Pango in the island of
Tutulia the best in all the Pacific. and
Pear harbor in the Hawaiian group the
next in value as a 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,
singly or as a group. are unimportant
so far as their local production or con-
|
important in their relation to the COM
merce Of any nation desiring to Guilt
waite trans-Pacific commerce. Mr..
! Coward, who was sent by the United
States government to the Samoan ISL
ands to arrange for a treaty with ref
erence to the harbor of Pango Pango,
said:
"The capacity of this harbor is suf-
ficient for the accommodation of large
fleets; land locked, it is safe from hur-
ricanes and storms, and could easily
! be defended from land or sea attack at
small expense In naval point of
view, it is the key position to the Sa-
moan group, and likewise to central
Polynesia, and is especially 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 YES
sells from San Francisco to Auckland.
| from Panama to Sydney, and from Val
pariso to China and Japan, and from
being outside the hurricane track, the
most valuable group in the south Pa
cific. Situated halfway between Hon
olulu and Auckland Pango Pango
would be a most convenient stopping
place or coaling station for vessels or
steamers, either for supplies or the ex-
change of commodities. With the Pa
cific mail steamers making it port for
coaling, it would necessarily become
the controlling commercial place in
that part of Polynesia"
The above statement made by Mr..
Coward in 1887 applied simply to the
harbor of Pango Pango, and it's i'm
portance increases with the occupancy
and complete ownership of the entire
island by the United States, and be-
comes additionally important in view
of the control by the United States of
the Hawaiin and Philippine groups,
the prosective construction of an 18TH
milan canal, and the rapidly growing
commerce between the United States
and the great markets of Asia and Gee
AMIGA. which buys annually more than
81 ,000,0 900, 900 worth of goods, and near
ly all of this class of merchandise
which the people of the United States
desire to sell.
The interest of the United States in
the Samoan islands, and especially Tu-
tulia which now passes completely I'M
der cur control provided the agree
ment of Germany and England is rati-
fed by the United States. began in
| 1872 when Commander Meade of the
United States navy made treaty with
Maunga, the great chief of the island
of Tutulia by which the port of Pango
Pango was to become the property of
the United States on condition that
| friendly alliance be made between the
island and this government. President
Grant, In message sending the treaty
to the United States senate Ia that
year. said:
THE advantages of the concessions
which the treaty processes to make are
so great in view of the advantageous
position of Tutulia seaport as coaling
station for stearsers between San
Francisco and Australia, that I should
not hesitate to recommend it's adoption
but for the obligation OF protection on
the part of the United States, which 1t
seems to imply"
This "obligaion 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
Jan. Z, 1878, ard their Publications ex-
changed on Feb. 13 by which the right
to establish at Pango Pango a station
for coaling, naval supplies, freedom of
trade, commercial treatment as a fa4
vored nation. and extraterritorial
consular jurisdiction 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 peo-
pie of the island into closer relations
with this government for which they
asked on that occasion.
Commercially, as already indicated.
u1 fe yt.xs.