The New York herald., 1850-05-19
Commercial Relations with the Oriental
World.

I
Northeastern Asia, and the Asiatic islands of the
Pacific ocean, together with much other important
information in reference to the political condition
of the Orientals. Deeming the subject of special
interest, as deeply affecting our maritime affairs,
and especially since the opening of new route to
those Arctic and central regions, hitherto explored,
by way of Cape Horn, and also because we have
become co>partner with England in trade we
might (and may probably stilD have monopolized,
/ sought and obtained access to the papers, and
give below such summary of their contents as
could conveniently collate, from hasty and in
discriminate examination. / have no doubt that,
among commercial classes, the synopsis and argu-
menis will be read with interest.
BY reference 10 the commerce and navigation
report, il appears that our entire exports to Russia
during last year. amounted in value to 81 ,0H ,5S2,
ard our imports TO $l,3l9,eS3. Our exports 10
China, for the same period, were $2,063,625, and
our imports Ss,0sS, ,f96-
Aggregate value Of exports oboth countries S31ll207
Ditto imports. S,4ozoe0
Grand aggregate. ............. .$l2,5l3,7s7
This trade was conducted mainly if not nearly al
together, in American vessels-two Russian ves-
sells only entering our ports during that period, and
one Chinese. So much a basis for the report.
Now, il occurs, what are the sources of protita-
bic intercourse with these countries, and all others
comprehended within the Senate's inquiry!
lsi. RussIA.-It is solely to Asiatic Russia that
we are to look for peculiar commercial advantages
by means of the Nicaragua route. With or home
manufactured fabrics, exchanged for the mineral
treasures and furs of Siberie, we could almost mo-
nopolize the trade which otherwise presses TO the
credit of European capitalists and adventnrers.
Our entire intercourse with Russia, for the past
year, as above quoted, amounted TO Sl2 700,
not one dollar of which accrued from the products
of Siberia, or the result of barter with those
provinces, with which we have never exchanged
the intrinsic value of dollar To bvate this sim
rich mines there of their valuable stores, we must
open new alliances with the government, and ex-
plore the penetrable but almost unknown regions of
the great Manchuran. A word as to the physical
character of Siberia. Its immense surface covers
area of 100000 square miles, and only contains
a population of 3,700,000. Of course, then, very
ffile is known of the country, because the popula-
ton is exceedingly limited, and confined solely 10
communities. Te us, the field of enterprise may
hereafter be fruitful one The principal products
are, gold, silver, platinum, iron, copper, lead, TIN,
quicksilver, antimony, cobalt, zinc, and coal and
of The precious stones, diamonds, amethysts topaz,
emeralds red tourmalines, Ircous, asper, aud por-
phyry, are found in great Quantities. The forests
yield The richest and most valuable OF furs and The
valleys whole strata OF ivory deposits, while the
rivers and lakes abound with fish that ind
ready sale in the japanese and American islands.
Now, in exchange for these exhaustlcss sources OF
wealth, we have various fabrics, suited 10 the wants
Of the Sibereans, and which are ever welcome to
their markets. independently of the aurlferous de-
posts, il is said that the rocks verging upon the
Atai mountains, when pounded up and analyzed,
yield heavy per ccniage OF gold and one tract OF
land discovered, Use an aurerous bed, larger than
the whole area of France. The produce OF gold Tor
the imperial treasury, in 1871, amounted 10 over
So, ,0O0, ,0oO worked solely by the criminals con-
demned to the labor Of the mines. This may give
some idea Of the mbedded treasures which remain
buried there The extraction of platinum is equally
profitable, but is not pursued TO the same extent
In regard to the fur trade il is capable OF being con-
Quoted upon scale OF vast magnitude. In isiI,
= "A IN hlf-
tered in Kiakta alone and those dspose% OF in other
markets mobably exceeded this bulk. Ia bllck
fox skin has been known TO sell as high as 900
roubles. In ivory, the trade is quite extensive,
but a mere fraction Of what IL might be, as what
also may he said of the other articles just enumc-
rated. Tusks have been found TO weigh as high as
4a2 pounds Such is the natural character and ply
scal aspect oi Siberia.
The derendency is divided into two PROVINCES
Eastern siberia and Western Siberia. The prin-
cipal towns accessible in Western Siberia are
lrkontsk, Thelmnsky, Yakoutsk, NeItshnsk, ud-
skoi Ok0tsk Alan, Tugary, lshijnsk, Petrupaul-
ski Gin Kamtschatka,) and other clever-sized
places In Western Siberia, there are the towns OF
Omsk, Tobolsk, Tomsk, kolyvan, krasnoyarsk,
Eksterinebougb, Nigay, Talgsk, Semapalatlnsk,
&c, &c, which are iiourishing and convenient
cities containing from 600 TO 1900 inhabitants
The next important query is, how 10 penetrate TO
these fields Of wealth and mines of endless uea-
sure. The great Am1r, which pursues its lonely
course, like the Niger, with scarcely foreign oar
or ruddcr TO awake the sombre solitude which en-
compasscs its waters, traversing hemisphere, unu
IL finally mingles with the Pacific, is the natura
artery 10 the heart Of Siberia, and by means OF it's
aillucnts to the whole region Of the arctic world.
Its length is varously computed at 500 and 200
miles, and in width and depth capable of admitting
vessels Of tolerabe capacity: Nature has made II
the connecting highway OF the sieppes OF Asia
with the rest of the world and, with volume Of
water, niHc miles wide, in depth y feet, and navi
gable for 500 leagues. II Is dcsdcratum Of no
small moment 10 the commercial interests Of ma
Fate fn alst n.I
with ease until they arrive at its afflucnts, the
ATgun and Chlka. Thence, navigable streams
convey vessels about thirty miles further; and, by
means Of natural and artificial highways, direct
communication could be opened with the Baltic,
and the Caspian and Black seas. Thus, IN word,
our flag might, by the latitude OF a treaty, pcnc-
trate 10 the very centre OF these embowelled and
disembowelled stores, at present denied us in con-
sequence Of a want Of intercourse that would
empty them into our lap.
And why have we not the advantage OF this in
iercourse Great Britain enjoys the privilege, (as
We shall learn, by the Nicaragua route, TO our
cos,.) and why should not we We should, at
once, endeavor TO repair the fault, by negotiating
for the entry Of vessels into the ports Of Siberia,
as well as those of ksmtschatka, and the kunlc
and Aleutian islands. We ought, also, 10 demand
the right OF navigating the Ain0r upon an equal
footing with the Russian government. and secure,
thereby, cur portion Of trade with the dependencies
OF China and the Chussn archipelago. Ii Nicar-
aqua is TO become the common highway Of nations,
why. ! would ask, ought not the great Amdr,
which j. the natural artery Of communication, in
terseciing Siberia and European Russia with the
continent Of America England, | have twice
or thrice repeated, in former letters, has obtained
liberal privileges by treaty alliances. and yet we,
who are more Intimately Interested. arc virtually
excluded. This should be looked to by our able
Secretary Of state, who has been 80 bcncfccnt in
granting facilities 10 Brother John for tho mono
poly Of the trade altogether.
I'll. We next examine the Chinese trade. Ki.
akta is frontier Siberian town. but IL is through /,
that we intercept the overland Russian trade with
the Chinese Empire. The town is IS miles south.
east of Seengcnsk, 40 southeast Of Irkontsk tI7i
from - Pctersburgh, and $50 from Pckin. II Is
located in manner to be reached by the Amfr,
ard thus, by the navigation Of this river control
the trade OF siberia on the north, European Russia
upon the east, Chinese Tsrtary upon the south,
China proper, tthst W, the inland trade upon the
extreme south, and Tartary proper upon the south.
east II is the entrcpot of Central Asia, and would
be made powerful auxiliary to the trade with
China, through her ports upon the Pacific seas
Canton is then on a straight line directly south, 10
that, with kiskta, we intercept the whole Of the
/ t.,u,sueo Chinese and Tarfarlan trade unon the