The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-16 00:00:00

ALASKA.

Two reports of more than usual interest are ex-
pected almost immediately to be published at Wash-
ington. Both have reference to the possessions of
the Republic on the Pacific side. That by Mr.
Ross BROWNE is more general than that by Mr.
DAVIDSON, as the former will embody the labours
of a large staff, and give in voluminous detail the
facts connected with the Mining States and Terri-
tories, comprising information it will be the object
of the United States to circulate broadcast over the
world for the benefit of the human race. Mr. DA-
VIDSON'S Report refers to Alaska, but it does not
profess to do more than give the outline of infor-
mation the scientific expedition could gather in so
short a period. Immediately on the purchase of
Russian America, an expedition was organised un-
der the direction of Professor PIERCE, of the United
States' Coast Survey, and conducted by GEORGE
DAVIDSON, which left San Francisco in the revenue
cutter Lincoln, Captain llowmtp, on the 21st of
last July. A. T. MOSS3IAN went as astronomer,
GEORGE FARQUHAR as hydrographer, with whom was
associated I. FORNEY as aid ; Dr. ALBERT KEL-
LOGG, botanist ; W. G. W. HARFORD, concholo-
gist ; T. A. BLAKE, geologist ; JUAN LEEDS, tidal
observer ; and W. 11A3IELL engineer. This
party reached Sitka on the 12th Augast, and re-
turned to San Francisco on the 18th November.
The period, therefore, was too short to gather full
information, more especially as the country isso diffi-
cult to penetrate and so little known. Still the main
object has been accomplished, and much scientific
knowledge acquired. Mr. DAVIDSON left San Fran-
cisco immediately, on his way to Washington, where
it is asserted many facts of vast industrial value
will be made known in his report. The San
Francisco Mining and Scientific Press gathered
what it could from the explorers, and the informa-
tion we are enabled to give is derived from that
source. The reported silver deposits in the neigh-
bourhood of Sitka have not been verified, nothing
being found at the localities indicated, or elsewhere.
Large coal seams were discovered in places which
will make the fuel valuable, as it can easily be
shipped. Copper is abundant, more especially on
Copper River, whence it is brought to the coast by
natives as an article of traffic. The miners from
Stir...keen state that they are making, on an aver-
age, $5 per day, with a rocker. The Russians re-
port gold on the Kakuy River, which flows into
Cook's inlet, about lat. 60. Salmon exist in great
abundance in Sitka Sound ; but perhaps the most
valuable discovery was an extensive cod bank, pro-
bably surpassing in extent and value the Banks of
Newfoundland, one advantage being the fact that
the water is only 50 fathoms deep 50 miles from
the shore, whereas at Newfoundland the depth is

90 fathoms, within a few miles only of the coast.
There are a number of islands convenient for dry-
ing the fish. All fish heretofore caught in the
northern waters of the Pacific have had to be,
brought to San Francisco to be dried. This disco-
very will soon secure for that coast a large fishing
fleet, which will prove, what is greatly needed, a
most excellent nursery for seamen. Good bait for
cod fishing was also discovered in great abund-
ance in the immediate vicinity. It is esti-
mated that there are 20,000 square miles of
soundings filled with cod and halibut. Ex-
cellent whaling ground was also found. The
great trade of the territory has hitherto been
furs, of which the value annually ex .;eeds $1,000,000
in gold. It is said that these furs have declined
fully one half, in the market of San Francisco,
since the purchase of Alaska, as European dealers
look for an improved development now that the
trade has passed into American hands. The botany
of the region was explored, so far as his limited
time would admit, by Professor KE:.LOGG. No hard
wood timber of value was found, but a useful
species of yellow cedar, in great abundance, and of
large growth. This wood is valuable for ship-
building, and specimens of a Russian ship were
brought down, perfectly sound, although the vessel
had been built 32 years, and lain long upon the
beach as a wreck, the timber even around the bolts
being well preserved. This wood is also valuable
for cabinet work, and for other purposes. Siti:a
spruce exists in abundance. Almost the entire
country is covered with a dense growth of
sphagnum (peat moss), into which the foot of the
pedestrian sinks to the depth of ten or twelve
inches at every step. The moisture to support
this growth is derived almost entirely, from the
atmosphere ; hence it is not confined to swamp
ground, but abounds equally on hill sides as in
swampy places. Potatoes, turnips, &c., grow
well in many places, after the sphagnum is removed.
The party proceeded from Sitka to Kodiack Island,
some 700 miles almost due west from Sitka, and
near the Peninsula of Alaska, where they found an
agreeable change from universal forests to a country
covered with herbage, where an abundance of
good pasturage exists. Geographical information
was also collected which will aid commerce. While
discussing the territory, we may allude to the pur-
chase money, a subject lately debated in the House
of Representatives. There can be no doubt that
Congress will sanction the acquisition and grant
the money, though the temper of the legislature
does not favour Mr. SEWARD'S territorial designs,
which will probably receive a strong check in the
refusal by Congress to ratify the. treaty for the
Danish West India islands. Two events have oc-
curred which induce the House to look with
coldness cn the purchase from Russia ;—the
one is the report of an American whaler that
he was ordered off a whaling ground by a Russian
war vessel, 'which fired upon him; the other relates
to the news from Sitka, which represents the four
companies of troops left there to be in a destitute
condition, the proper precautions not having been
taken for their residence during winter, in so rigo-
rous a climate. As access is now barred by ice
they cannot be relieved till spring, and fears are en-
tertained that they will suffer much before the winter
ends. An old claim against Russia has been re-
vived before the House Committee of Foreign
Affairs by the widow of W. B. PERKINS, of Mas-
sachusetts. It appears that Russian agents during
the Crimean War contracted with PERKINS for 150
tons of gunpowder and a number of rifles. That
gentleman fulfilled the conditions of the contract,
but the war ended before the receipt of the stores,
and the Russian Government declined to receive
either the powder or the arms. On the application
of the State Department, the Imperial Government
refused to acknowledge the debt, and the claim,
amounting to $300,000, has been brought forward
at intervals as opportunity offered. No better one
than this has occurred, and Mrs. PERKINS is vigo-
rously pushing to enforce what she alleges to be her
right. In case the Committee decides against her
she will appeal direct to the House, on the question
of the Russian Appropriation coming up.—Anglo-
American Times.

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at the Close,

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