The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-29
CONDITIONS IN SAMOA.
The United States Ranks second I'm
Imports to the Islands.

I
Conditions in the Samoan Islands since
the transfer of Tutuila and Manua to the
/ United States, and Savaii and Upolu TO
| the German Government, is the subject
/ of report by the British Consul located
/ IN the islands, copy of which has just
| been received by the Treasury Bureau OF
Statistics The report is as follows:
The islands of Savaii and Upolu were
| annexed by Germany on March l. 1900
| Shortly afteTWard. on April II. the United
States took possession of Tutuila and
ManUa- The only export for many years
has been copTa- amounting to: In 1897
et5.ooo; 1898, $50, 600: 1895, $4,000: 1900.
$4,000 Copra. largely used for the manu-
! faeture of soap and candles. goes to the
United Kingdom. France, Germany, Rus
STA. Italy. and the United States. prin-
cipaliy to the United Kingdom and Ger
many One Of the first acts of the Gov
ernor was to protect the natives by en-
forcing fair weights; he Is now endeav-
oring to induce them to make a better
article.
AT the present time cacao is engag-
ing much attention here At a distance
of two or three miles from the sea. it
Grows almost wild and can be cultivated
with success everywhere in Samoa, ex-
cept, perhaps. on the summit OF the noun
tains. here the climate will probably be
too cold. The quality is good Mr.. Car
ruthers' cacao fetched lately the highest
price in the London market The Gov
erno- is introducing plants of the ceIe-
brated -Saeonusco variety. from Mexico
Cacao planting should draw the atten-
ton of home capitalists The great draw
back is that leases from the natives for
longer period than ten years are not
likely to be confirmed, as the Government
does not wish to encourage land specu-
lators and refers any application Of this
kind to the Berlin authorities
Coffee has been a failure Even the
hardy Liberian coffee introduced few
years ago is now suffering from the same
disease that destroyed the mocha and
other varieties. Vanilla and koIa promise
well Rubber should also succeed Ba-
nanas and pineappIes are shipped occa-
sionaily to Auckland IN small quantities.
but the time occupied in transit is too
long and the fruit is often spoiled on the
voyage.
The principal articles imported are
salt Eeef in kegs and timed meats. en-
tfrely from Auckland; soap, from Auck-
land and Sydney; prints, long cloth, and
other articles OF drapery, etc, principally
from Auckland and Sydney, although
during The last three years merchants
have begun to import from Hamburg
many articles formerly brought from the
colonies Kerosene oil, timed biscuit, and
lumber come from San Francisco.
Commercial travellers from Auckland
and Sydney visit Samoa regularly for or
ders. The large German firm founded by
the Godefroys. for many years establish
Il in this group, imports from Hamburg
the greatest part of the manufactured
goods used IN the carrying on Of its bust
ness.
AT present the import duties are as
follows: Ale, 80 cents per dozen quarts;
spirits. $3.50 per gallon; wine, 81 per gall
lon; sparkling wine, $3.50 per gallon; to-
bacco. 80 cents per pound; cigars, 81 per
pound; sporting arms. 8 each; gunpoVg-
der, p cents per pound. On all other ar
ticles ad vaIorem, per cent on invoice
cost and charges. II is supposed that
Sole alterations vii! be made before long
IL this tariff
Storekeepers pay a J arIy tax of from
So to S100. according to Fhe business done.
The tax OF buildings is I per cent yearly
on twQ-thIrdS of their value, that on
trades and professions IS from g to $50
per aHnuTu- Their Is export tax Of
~ per cent on the value Of copra
shipped All Of the above were irnpCsed
originally in accordance with the Berlin
treaty Of 1888
The population of German Samoa con-
sists of about 2e8 whites. 800 haIf-castes.
and . G9 natives Imports. therefore.
cannot be very large, native wants IN
china te ike this being limited: but should
planting companies be formed. and the
land utilized, matters VIII assume very
different aspect
There is more protection for property
now than was formerly the case when the
islands were under the rule Of native
sovereign The government IS concilia-
ting both parties with much success and
at present the relations between the ma
tives and all foreigners are most AMIGA
bic. II the rebellion should occur. it
would arise out of the disputes between
the old consisting native factions.
The area OF UpolU is 22e0G acres, of
SaFaii. 10000 acres. IN all so oa9 acres.
of which only 20 900 acres are now being
cultivated. One hundred and fifty thou
sand acres have been sold to foreigners
Commerce would be increased To a very
great extent should the land generally
be thrown open to Improvement by sale
OF forty-year leases The price of the
land ranges between 81 80 and S25 per
acre, according to its situat3o and i'm
pToVementS- An American company late
~ sold several thousand acres in blocks
at from = 10 50 per acre
There are several schools IN Apia. Ro-
man Catholic and Protestant in which
English services are regularly held.
The area Of Tutuila and Manua is
small. perhaps 900 acres much Of which
is steep and mountainous. TUtGiIa is sew
enty miles from Apia Four thousand ma
tives are living on TutUila and 1900 on
Manua, and about twenty whites and as
many half-caSteS.
The imports OF the Samoan group in 1893
were about SSe 900 in value and the ex-
ports E4S 60. No details of the 1890 com
nnerce were available when the report was
sent. but the 1899 figures showed that the
United States held second rank in the
countries supplying the imports the fig
ures being From the British Empire
SO 49,; from the United States, Els 3D.
( from Germany, GI5,Z90-