Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-01-25
OUR NEW ISLAND OF TUTUILA.
The Best Island in the South Pacific
Falls to the United States.

Tutulia, the Samoan island which
falls to the United States in the recent
arrangement. completed between Ger
many and En- land, subject to ratifca-
tion by the united States government,
becomes an extremely valuable addi-
ton to the possessions of the United
States in the Pacific. With but a 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
Tutu1ia 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-
sumption is concerned, but extremely
important in their relation to the COM
merce of any nation desiring to Guilt
vate 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
a 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
cifc. Situated halfway between Hon
olulu and Auckland Pango Paneo
would be a most convenient s-0~rirg
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 its 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 Oce-
AMIGA, which buys annually moro than
81 900, 000, 900 worth of goods, and near
~ 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 our control, provided the agree
ment of Germany and England is rati-
fed by the United States, began in