The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-09-23
Russian Possessions in North America.

Russian Possessions in North America.
The probability that, in the impending
war iii Europe, the possessions of Russia on
the northwest coast of this continent may
be subject to blockade, and, perhaps to a.
seizure, renders it matter of some interest
to know something both in regard to Rus
sian America, and also the present condition.
of their squadron i'll the Pacific.
Although writer in the North American
in an apparent disposition to make the most
of the colossal proportions Of Russia, on the
map, refers in passing to these possessionsI
IN America, as if they were Of some mo-
ment, their value is, in reality, of the most
nominal description. To be sure on the
map it extends from 55 , to II G north lat
itude from 1880 to 1852 west longitude,
yet the total population of this vast region.
oborlglncs included, is but sixty thousand
inhabitants. The whole interior is unex-
ipIored and unknown, and at least one third
lies wi hin the arctic zone. The whole area
is about four hundred thousand square miles.
: The settlement of this tract of country
originated with an association OF Russian
merchants belonging to Irkutsk, who OBJ
Il, tanned from the Emperor Paul the grant of a
monopoly in trading in peltries in the Aleu-
! tian Islands and the a aCent coast; this was
subsequently extended by by Alexander to
the whole of Russian America, and renew
ed by the present Gar in 1919. Kodac was
the first capital and the seat of the princi-
pal factory. It was subsequently, removed
to New Archangel, which has since be-
come the chief depot Of the Russian Fur
=. Company. 1t is situated on an island called
Sitka, i'll latitude 81 deg. 80 min. north, and
contains somewhere about thousand in
habltants. There are no Russian settlements
on the main land only the islands being oc-
cupied By them, The governor Of the terri
tory derives his authority from the company
at lrkutsk. Its commerce has been almost
, exclusively confined 10 the transportation Of
furs to Canton, and the import Of provis-
ions and agricultural supplies from the Puget
Sound Company OF VancouverS Island
1t is Of small value hardly amounting to
quarter of million of dollars in year, and
! will, of course, be interrupted so long as the
war lasts. The continental portion of the
+ Russian poss 2ssions is under lease to the
British Fur Company, which of course
stands annuled in time Of war. We learn
from the New York Albion that the present
British squadron on our North Pacific coast
; is under the command of Rear Admiral
Price, whose flag is in the President, of so
guns. Under his order are the Amphitrite
"A, the Dido IS, the Thetis SO, the Trinco-
malee q, and the steam sloops Vrago and
Cockatrice, 6 and 4; in all l64 guns.
1t has been stated--we know not on what
aulhority--that the British government have
notified our authorities at Washington that
Immediately upon the commencement of
hostilities, a blockade of all the Russian
ports on the Pacific would be established. -
If this be so, we shall soon hear of its hav-
ing been promptly carried into execution,
upon the news of the war reaching the Pa
cifc. This will interrupt the commerce
which, within the past year, has grown up
= between the Russian settlements and San
Francisco, and may involve considerable
loss to the parties engaged in it. An Amer
, lean mining company, with large capital,
has recently made arrangements for working
the Russian coal mines. The Interruption
of this undertaking promises to be attended
with serious Disadvantages, especially in
San Francisco, where enormous quantities
of coal are required for the steamers plying
in those waters. 1t was hoped that this
new source would have abundantIy supplied
the market at less than half the present rates
l. Boston Atlas.
The deaths from yellow fever, at Savan-
nah, still range from 80 to 40 per day. 1t is