Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1899 — FACTS ABOUT SAMOA. [ARTICLE]

FACTS ABOUT SAMOA.

foraiKr Wants to Rule the Little Group-Her Trade There Xa Small. The Germans wapt the ruling hand set Samna. They cannot claim this on the strength of their superiority In trade with the islands, for in this respect they fall far below the United States, Great Britain and Australasia. In 1807 the islands imported $53,415 worth of goods from the United States, FTA-T** from Great Britain and only $5,562 from Germany. The Germans, however, prepare and export a great deal of copra, and they own most of the- land that foreigners hold in the islands. Of the 135,000 acres, about onesixth of the area of the group owned by foreigners, at least 85,000 acres, including the best land in the islands, is owned by the Germans. This landed estate was secured by the original Ger man trading firm, and its successor, have never parted with an acre of it. The great drawback of Samoa is that it is so far from markets. Its best products are tropical fruits, which are abundantly produced, but distance from, markets prevents exportation. California is fifteen days by steam, and freight rates are prohibitive. Besides, California is itself a fruit country. New Zealand is five days distant, but its whole population is not much more than that of Baltimore. Sydney is eight dhys away by steam, but Australia and New Zealand have islands nearer them, notably Fiji, which grow ail the tropical fruits they want. So no fruit is shipped from Apia, the only port of the islands. In 1888 the Ceylon coffee disease first appeared on the plantations of Samoa, and in a short time put an end to the coffee production in that group. No attempt has since been made to raise coffee.

Practically the whole business of -Samoa is based to-day upon the cocoanut. and the export of copra, the dried meat of the cocoanut, represents nearly all the exports of the islands. In 1897, nearly 11.000,000 pounds of copra, the native product, were exported in addition to the large quantity raised’bn the German plantations. But even in her copra Samoa is not particularly fortunate. Some fifteen years ago there was an enormous demand for copra, with the result that the cocoanut tree was planted on the coast of every sea where It would grow. A few years biter the markets were glutted with copra, prices fell about one-half, and the days of the prosperity of that trade have not since returned. What with her potttical troubles and the causes that have conspired to keep her commerce small. Samoa has uot had a very prosperous history., The time is com Ing. however, when she will see better days. The resources of the group, which, all told, is about as large as Rhode Island, have yet scarcely l>een touched. In fact, nobody lives mote than three or four miles from the sea, ami the inner pajrts of the islands have not been utilized.—New Y’ork Sun.