Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1929-12-20

coastal strip. This entails the ford
ing of many streams which flow out
Of the mountains of the interior. Or
one may push up one of the many
valleys over trails that skirt swift
streams and plunge through tunnels OF
verdure to a mountain top. If one
climbs for the view, however, the time
must be well chosen, for clouds shrOud
the mountain SUBMITS large part OF
the time. The most novel sightseeing
trip is made in small boat to the
coral reefs where, through water
crystal clear, one may look down upon
beautiful under-sea garden OF weird
and beautiful grOwths among which
dart brilliantly colored fishes.
Page Pago's Wonderful Harbor.
For the third stopping place. one
should visit Page Page, capital OF
American Samoa, which Is the only bit
of American soil that lies south Of
the Equator.
Pago Page practically fell into the
lap of a none too willing America.
while various powers were seeking
island territory In the Pacific. But If
the entire South seas had been combed
with all the other nations standing
deferentially by, better location for
a naval base hardly could have been
chosen. Most South sea harbOrs are
little more than crescent bays, pro-
tected by coral reefs, their safety
largely dependent on the direction of
the wind. At Page Page ships sail
canic crater, only a narrow entrance
open to the sea. Furthermore, there
is sharp turn inside, the whole har-
Dor being shaped much like the ankle
and foot of stocking.
The United States naval station is
situated on the "instep," its back
toward the sea, but with high noun
tains intervening. Page Page town
lies at the ''toe." Most of the anchor
age is entirely out Of sight of the
sea, and the ships lie In deep placid
water even when destructive gales are
blowing outside.
Giving Page Page the premier place
among South sea Ravens does not do it
justice. Many famous harbors are
more commodious; but 1t Is hardly
too much to say that Page Page is
at once one Of the safest and most
beautiful harbors in the world. mar
row strip of level land rims the har-
Dor. Immediately beyond this strip
the sides rise up steeply to noun
famous heights, the sloping walls COW
cred with varying shades of green,
tropical vegetation. In addition to the
naval station and Page Page town,
three or four villages nestle close to
the waters edge around the harbor,
their matched huts half hidden by
coconut palms.
The harbor of Page Page almost
cuts the Island of Tutuila In two.
This Is the largest isle of American
Samoa, II miles long and about
miles wide. The other American
islands lie about 60 miles to the east.
Only one, Tau, about 3 miles in diam.
eter, is of Importance, though two
smaller isles are inhabited. Alto
gether the population of American
Samoa Is about 5000 some 5000 re.
siding on Tutuila.
American Samoa has been little
spoiled by the civilization of the moth
er country, or that of other whites.
Few whites reside In the islands be-
sides the small group of missionaries
and the officers, man and nurses at
the naval station. Only one planta-
ton is owned by white man and
only three or four whites have lease
holds. Practically the entire surface
Of the islands Is owned In small tracts
by individual natives. The United
States even bought from individual
landlords the 40 acres needed for Its
naval establishment.