The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-18 00:00:00

Russian Territory in America.

From the vague and conflictingdescriptions which
have appeared in the press in relation to the terri-
toryon the North American continent recently ceded
by the Russian Government to the United States
for a pecuniary consideration, it is quite obvious
that few persons in England have any distinct know-
ledge-Of the -extent and value of that immense re-.
gion. The people sof.Arneriea, however, we do not
doubt, are better informed on the subject, and have
not concluded their bargain with the Russian Go-
vernment merely frOm an ambitious desire to enlarge
their territories, but with a view of turning to pro-
fitable account, in a variety of ways, their new
acquisition. Just as in the early part of the century
they coveted and at length obtained possession of
Louisiana and the Floridas, and with those countries
an outlet by way of the Mississippi for the vast and
increasing produce of the Western States, and in
more recent times wrested from Mexico the valu-
able gold fields of California; so we believe at the
present time the Americans, in purchasing at almost
a nominal price the region hitherto known as Rus-
sian America, have been actuated principally by the
desire to open out a new source of wealth to the
great Republic. We have as yet had nothing like
an accurate description of Russian America, or of
its varied resources. With a coast upon the Pacific
of some 1,500 miles in length, indented by nume-
rous sounds and capacious harbours, and studded
with many large islands of considerable resources, it
extends back, for about 1,000 miles of that coast, to
a distance of 900 miles, and for the remaining 500
miles of coast to 30 miles, the latter being the por-
tion in front of British Columbia, which it cuts off
from the Pacific ; while the peninsula of Alaska,
about 50 miles in breadth, stretches out into the
Pacific for upwards of 300 miles ; the whole terri-
tory comprising an area of—not between 300 and
400, as stated in recent descriptions—but 900,090
miles. It is thus about 16 times the size of England.
It contains many monntaiti ranges of groat h.igh*,
and fine valleys, magnificently watered and fer-
tilised by. lakes and rivers ; the mountain ranges
in the upper and broader portion of the territory
having a transverse direction, and therefore shelter-
ing the valleys from northerly winds, which in that
quarter are cold winds in summer, while in winter
they invariably cause a rise in the thermometer. A
great portion of this vast region is covered with
forests of the largest and most valuable trees. In
speaking of the resources of Russian America, Sir
John Richardson, iu his work upon " The Arctic
Searching Expedition," quotes Bongard, with regard
to one portion of it, who says that " the hill of
Westerwoi," near Norfolk Sound, in lat. 58 deg.,
which is 3,000 ft., French measure,
in height, is
clothed to its summit by a dense forest of spruce and
pint s, some of which acquire a circumference of
21ft., and a length of 160 ft. Sir John Richardson
adds—" The climate of Sitka," the 112111 C of the bay
as well as of the island upon which is situated New
Archangel, the chief post of the Russian company,
lying in 57 deg. N. latitude, " is very much milder
than that of Europe on the same parallel, the cold
of winter being neither severe nor of long continu-
ance. The harbour at Sitka, and several other fine
harbours in the neighbourhood, are open during the
whole winter ; thus showing an extraordinary con-
trast to the opposite masts of Asia, which are ice-
bound for three parts of the year." Sir George
Simpson, in his " Travels Round the World," re-
marks : _

" Although at some points Behring's Straits are only 45
milesthere iws iad em,
ai nr k
et
dh e d
igffeonreernae
oil a pt
hp
ee a%tv-aensctee
ronf
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flat, and sterile, while the eastern is well wooded, and in
stibd ee bt ge° al
oswts,
every respect better adapted than the other for the suste-
nance both of man and beast. Moreover, the soil and
climate improve rapidly on the American shore, as one de-
scends, and at Cook's Inlet (in GO deg. N. lat.) potatoes may
be raised with ease, though they hardly ripen in any part
of Kamtschatka, which extends nearly 10 deg. farther
south. As, in addition to the advantages of cultivation,
deer, fish, game, and hay are abundant, the Russian Fur
Company contemplates the formation of a settlement there
for the reception of its own servants."

Of the many large rivers which flow through
Russian America none of them have been ex-
plored to their sources; but the Colville, the
Stikine, the Youkon or Kwichpack, and the
Kuskokwin, are supposed to run a course of up-
wards of 1,000 miles, and to be navigable for con-
siderable distances. The Colville is two miles wide
at its mouth in the Arctic Sea. The Stikine enters
the Pacific in 56 deg. 50 sec. N. latitude, where it
is three miles wide, and at a diitance of 30 miles
from the sea has a width of one mile ; but its source
is in the British territory. The Youkon or Kwich-
pack rises to the west of the Rocky Mountains, not
far from the union of the Francis and Lewis, which
form the Pelly ; flows first to the north, and, after
receiving a large tributary named the Porcupine, to
the westward, falls into Behring's Sea. In 66 deg.
N. latitude, and 1417 f deg. W. longitude, which is
about 1,000 miles from its mouth, it is, according
to Sir John Richardson, one mile and a quarter
wide.

Some idea of the value of the fur trade of the
region may be formed from the fact that the Rus-
sian Fur Company mrintain about 60 establish-
ments among the islands along the coast, upon
the mainland itself, and in the Fox, Aleutian, and
Kurile islands, which stretch acroFs to the coast
of Japan, and that the Tchukche of Siberia cross
•Behring's Straits to trade with the Esquimaux,
and with the Russian posts recently planted in
that quarter, for furs and fossil ivory. Of Sitka, or
New Archangel, the capital of Russian America,
Sir Edward Belcher says:—

" The establishment of Sitka is situated on a flat, broad
delta, on the outer rocky peninsula, of which the fortress
stands. It is about 60 feet above the sea level, and com-
pletely commands all the anchorages in the immediate
neighbourhood, as well as the peninsula. The inner lino,
which traverses the longest base of this delta, is protected
by a heavy line of picketed logs, 25 feet in height, sur-
mounted in chgram do /Neel Owl at thg glaglog

within musket-shot of each other, by small blockhouse re-
doubts, loopholed, and furnished with small giros and
swivels. This cuts off all connection with the nasves but
through a portcullis door, admitting into a railed yard those
bringing goods to market. The present very substantial
house erecting for the governor and his establishment
is about 140 feet long by 70 wide, of two good
stories with lofts, capped by a lighthouse in the centre of
the roof. The summit of the light is 110 feet above the sea
level, and commands a most extensive prospect. :he
building is of wood, solid, some of the logs measuring 7tl
and 80 feet in length, and squaring one foot. The roof is
pitched and covered with sheet iron. When complete, the
fortifications of Sitka will comprise five sides., upon which
40 pieces of cannon. will be mounted, principally old ship
guns, varying from 12 to 21-pounders. Tho bulwarks are
of wood, and fitted similarly to the ports on the main deck
of a frigate. The arsenal, which is immediately under tha
low ground, is well stored with cordage of every descrip-
tion,and of very superior quality. The range of artificers
is very complete, and specimens of their workmanship in
every department attest superior ability. The saw-mills,
which are worked by water, are about 20 miles distant,
half-way down the south side of the sound, at Les Sources,
or warm springs, which serves as a sort of Harrogate to
tho colony. They have a building slip, protected by a
house, similar to those in our dockyards. The establish-
ment comprises that of a ship of the line, one captain (the
governor), one commander (lieutenant-governor), and
lieutenants, masters, etc., according to the number of ves-
sels employed. The total number-is about 800, but of these
many were invalids. Of course many of their picked men
were absent in their vessels, visiting the posts and collect-
, ing furs which were daily expected to arrive. I witnessed
comparative cleanliness and comfort, and much to admire
particularly in the school and hospital. The interior of
their church is splendid, quite beyond conception in such a
place-as-this; The iillobresteblishmenriappears...
rapidly on the advance, and at no distant
,period we may
bear of a trip to Nokolk Sound, through America, as little
more than a summer excursion."
The trade of Sitka, in 1842, was estimated at
' 10,000 fur seals, 1,000 sea otters, 12,000 beavers,
2,500 land otters, and 20,000 sea-horse teeth, be-
sides foxes and martens, and the produce of the
salmon, sturgeon, and turbot fisheries, and of the
neighbouring forests. Sable and ermine are also
obtained in the territory.
It is believed that Russian America will be found
hereafter to possess far great riches in its minerals
and ores than in its furs or fisheries. Several valu-
able minerals, such as fine jasper, porcelain, clay,
semi-opal, plumbago, gypsum, various coloured
ochres, amber, sulphur, petroleum, galena, por-
phyry, variegated marble, and also iron ore, have
already been discovered in many parts of the terri-
tory. Coal is found in abundance in all parts of the
immense region, which will prove of great value in
facilitating mining operations.
A brief study of the above facts in relation tl
Russian America, which have been mainly obtained
from a work published in 1855 by the Literary and
Historical Society of Quebec, and which may, there-
fore, be deemed authentic, will tend' to show that,
independently' of any political purposes which the
Americans may have kept in view in acquiring the
territory, the development of its varied resources is
an object worthy of their skill and enterprise, and
likely in their hands to prove a new and valuable
source of national wealth.