Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-09
Island of Samos,

consul GeHefdi Ernest l.. Harris n,
Smyrna, as a result of a visit thers,.
furnishes the following informa.io,
concerning the island of Samos. whios
is only about forty-three miles sou,s
west from that Turkish city. and i,
separated from the mainland at nm.
point by only a narrow channel M,
more than mile wide.
According to the last census Samo,
has Il population of $1,000 inhabitants
entirely Greek in language, rellgon
and nationality. The capital Of the
isIanI is Nathy, with a population a,
$1,000. The principal towns are Carlo.
vassi, Tigani and Chora. There ara
about thirty villages, which vary in
size from fifty to two thousand inhabi.
tants. These towns are situated On
tho coast and have artificial harbos
which contain from one to twenty.sya
fathoms of water.
Samos in reality is q principally. The
vassal OF Turkey, and pays to the
lSuzerain state nominal annual
tribute, which the Sultan reinuuishes
to the people Of the island for the Dur.
pose OF building and repairing roads,
of which there is a great need The
government consists of a prince, whe
is usually an Ottoman subject, but
Greek in religion. He is assisted BY
deputies, who are elected by the
Samian people.
Wine constitutes the chief source Of
wealth of lSalnos, There are some.
thing like 1.420 acres of vintage, and
the renowned muscatel grape is
speciality OF the island. AT present the
total output is 15S0,000 gallons, but
with the substitution vines free from
phyloXe1a the natives hope to increase
the OUTPUT to 100000 gallons, the
quantity which was produced as far
back as 1894. American slips are used,
for the reason that they most success
fully oppose the phyloyera- Two
thir0s Of tile muscatel wine produced
is exported to France and Germany
for mixing purposes.
The culture of tobacco is a great
source of wealth to the island. MOI
only does it furnish means OF living
to a goodly number of peasants, put 1t
also provides labor for many WHO
would otherwise be compelled to leave
the island TO seek employment.
The tobacco OF Samos has me-
diur- sized leaf, is highly aronaur'
and is rarely smoked pure, 1or .Ae
reason that it is one of the chlef iilA'
lures which has rendered TURKISH !"
bacco so famous. The principal ca
ports are to Germany. Russia ana ,D'
United States, although the clsareues
find their way to every part Vi III,
world. While standing on the quay
Nathy I saw several hundred cases pe'
ing shipped to China. Korea and japan
The best quality can always oe re.Oe
nized by the color Of the lea1. opv'
the color depends the price, WHICH va
ries between 20 and 80 cents per oh0
G. 80 pnunds). 1t is said tilat =.
American company bought nearly I'll.
whole of one seasons OUTPUT ,r..
Samos tobacco a few years ago
tobacco harvest this year VIII aii'''''
to about $4,000 pounds.
The carob tree grows wild IN ti'e =
land of Sainos. and the fruit servo, ~
a food for cattle. IT is also uSeu ~. -
mixing with chewing tobacco 40,
annual production amounts 10 0,sOs
600 pounds, nine-tenths of Whlch i,''.'
its way to Italy and the rest 10 '''
many. :
The annual production of owe Ia; W
amounts to $4,000 pounds, OF VIM II
very little is exported. 1t is hea''s ~
sold in the island for alimentatioi ''''
for making household soap.
The exports of cigarettes from o1 49,.
annually amount to 50,0OO.ooo' En-.
land, Germany, India and the no" ooa
vaal are large buyers. More tilah ~
workmen are employed in the ollie' ~.
factories, where they are paid d. srs
average rate of 80 cents for ess, ..
thousand cigarettes rolled. Some liz. .id
chimes were recently introduced WIZ" .oh
greatly facilitate the work, lnasln N.o.
as 100000 cigarettes may now VIC 81.
duced daily Naturally many N ~. .,
men will be permanently thrown ou .ay
employment, and many are an
-v<% tr-Is